p 



I 1 




Herq^^^ '" 



OUR ARMY IN THE GREAT REBELLION. 



HEKOES 

AND 

BATTLES 



OF THE 



"WAK 1861-65. 



HON. J.iT?HEADLEY, 

AUTHOR OP "WASHINGTON AND HIS GENERALS," "NAPOLEON AND HIS MARSHALS," 
" SACRED MOUNTAINS. AND SCENES," ETC., ETC., ETC. 



COMPRISING 

AN AUTHENTIC ACCOUNT OF BATTLES AND SIEGES, ADVEN- 
TURES AND INCIDENTS, INCLUDING BIOGRAPHIES OF THE 
PROMINENT GENERALS WHO WERE INSTRUMENTAL 
IN BRINGING THE CIVIL WAR TO A 
TRIUMPHANT CLOSE, i 



WITH NUMEROUS 

-OPYRIG 

■ -^ r- 



' rOPYRiG 
SOLD BY SUBSCRIPTION. ' r, . 

Wj 



NEW YORK: 
E. B. TREAT, 6 COOPER UNION. 

Patriotic Publishing Co., Chicago, III. 
1891. 



PUBLISHER'S NOTE. 

Among the most thrilling pages of American History are those which de- 
scribe the stirring incidents of the famous Generals and their Campaigns, 
in the Civil War of 1861-65, from the capture of Fort Donelson to Sherman's 
famous march through Georgia, ending finally in the capture of Richmond, 
the surrender of the Eebel armies, and the final overthrow of the most 
gigantic Rebellion recorded in History. Battles and sieges, adventures 
and incidents, in connection with the great heroes of the war, and much 
that is of interest in their memorable campaigns, are recorded in this vol- 
ume, and the descriptions of these stirring events, by the vigorous and 
graphic pen of Hon. J. T. Headley, enchain the reader with their vivid- 
ness, and make him, as it were, a spectator of the magnificent and imposing 
scenes so faithfully portrayed. 

The four years of civil war through which the United States passed 
created a history, the record of which is brilliant with the names of heroes 
and heroic deeds. A quarter of a century or more has elapsed, the smoke 
and din of battle have passed away and a new generation is now upon the 
scene, eager to know of the struggle from the pages of history, thus creat- 
ing a demand for a work which will give an authentic account of the daring 
deeds and gallant achievements of the brave and faithful men who so nobly 
defended and preserved our country. 

The Publisher esteems himself fortunate in having secured the talents 
of the distinguished author of this work, who has achieved a world-wide 
reputation as the most popular and graphic writer of military history of 
modern times, to prepare a book worthy of the theme and the occasion. 

Mr. Headley' s reputation and his facilities for obtaining facts and in- 
formation, his personal acquaintance with many of the officers and soldiers, 
his access to official documents, and the additional fact that the Generals 
now living have contributed to and revised their respective biographies, 
place the authenticity of this work beyond a doubt, and we offer it to the 
public as a standard and reliable addition to American literature. The great 
and peculiar value of this work consists in the fact that, in so smaJl a 
compass, the author has given a comparatively full biography of the illus- 
trious men whose deeds he celebrates, and, at the same time, correct pic- 
tures of the grand historical events in which they performed such important 
parts. , 

The Book is embellished with portraits engraved on steel in the highest 
style of the art, by H. B. Hall, from photographs taken from life by Brady, 
Babnard, (army photographer,) and others; and by spirited battle-scenes, 
engraved by Eoberxs, from original designs drawn expressly for this work. 

The Publishers. 



PREFACE 



The design in tlie present work is two-fold : first, to 
give the history of the two great generals who brought 
the war to a successful close, including a full account of 
the campaigns by which the final result was reached. 
It is as necessary to note the early training, by battles and 
campaigns, by which they were finally enabled to grasp 
the entire situation and move together to the same tri- 
umphant end, as it is to know the finaJ measures and move- 
ments that brought success. The war produced no one 
great military genius who at once vaulted to supreme 
command, and, like the first Napoleon, revolutionized 
military science and astonished the world by the novelty 
and grandeur of his movements. Both the government 
and the generals geew to their great positions. Hence 
what is needed is not indiscriminate eulogy, but truth- 
ful narrative and just criticism. Geant and Sherman are 
two names that will live forever in our history, not be- 
cause they were the subjects of a blind adulation, but 
because their worth was properly estimated and their 
deeds tnithfully recorded. The time has gone by to 
apotheosize men — make gods of them. We want to see 



10 PREFACE. 

them as ttey are — though great, still human, and sur- 
rounded with human infirmities ; worthy of immortal 
honor, not because they are unlike us, but because they 
excel us — great too, not merely in their actions, but in the 
work they accomplished for their country. 

The second object is to group together those gen- 
erals around whom seemed to gather the most impor- 
tant and decisive events of the war and who at times 
occupied separate commands. 

Many great and worthy generals might be added to 
the list we have selected, but in the progress of the war 
they were dropped from active service from various 
reasons — some from inequalities of character or temper 
— improper habits, or inability to resist the temptations 
of pride and ambition. Some were displaced through 
personal or political malice of men in and ont of power ; 
though their deeds will find a place in history. These 
are omitted, because their introduction here would mar 
the unity of the design in this work, which is to present 
the chief generals who conducted the struggle to a 
successful issue, including their campaigns and battles. 

Besides, the introduction of every meritorious officer 
would make the work too cumbersome for our jDurpose, 
unless the biographies were reduced to mere encyclo- 
pedia articles. 

The utmost efforts have been made to have these 
sketches complete without being heavy — to give the 
leading qualities, peculiar characteristics, and actions of 
the men, in such form as to individualize each. 



PREFACE. 1 1 

Biograpliies possess but half tlieii* tme value unless 
they give living portraits, so that each man stands out 
clear and distinct in his true character and proportions. 
A careful study of the war from the outset gives us, 
we think, the right to attempt this, without being charg- 
ed with vanity. At all events, the men embraced in 
this volume merit all the honor they ever will receive, 
while their names deserve the separate places which it 
shall be our design, and at least our effort, to give them. 



Newburgh, N. Y., 

September, 1890. 




LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. 







PORTRAITS. 




-^ 1. G 


EN. U. S. Grant, F) 


ontispiece. 


14. 


Gen 


. 0. 0. Howard, 


> 2. 


' Wm. T. Sherman, 


" 


:i5. 




J. M. SCHOFIELD 


^ 3. 


' P. H. Sheridan, 


<i 


16. 


" 


J. KiLPATRICK, 


!■ 4. 


' Geo. H. Thomas, 


" 


17. 




W. S. Eosecran 


y 5. 


' WiNFiELD Scott, 


19 


18. 




J. A. Logan, - 


. 6. 


• Geo. B. McClell. 


^N, - '■ 


19. 




Geo. G. Meade, 


i^ 7 


' EoBT. Anderson, 


" V 


20. 




W. S. Hancock 


^ 8. 


' J. C. Fremont, 




21. 




Franz Sigel, 


" 9. 


' A. H. Terry, - 


" 


22. 




Jos. Hooker, - 


10. 


■ N. P. Banks, 


" 


23." 




R. A. GiLLMORE. 


. 11. 


' John Pope, 


" ■ 


24. 




A. E. BURNSIDE, 


. 13. 


' J. B. McPherson, 


- 237 


25. 




J. Sedgwick, 


13. 


' H. W. Slocum, 











337 



- 347 



BATTLE SCENES AND MAPS. 



The Open Record, 1861-65, - - - - Half Title. 

General Grant's Birthplace, - - - - - 27 

Bombardment of Ft. Sumpter, - - - - - 31 

Fort Sumpter after the Bombardment, - - - - 31 

Gen. Grant and Comrades in Service, - - - - 59 

Siege and Surrender of Vicksburg, - - - - 79 

LiBBY Prison, Richmond, Va., ----- 97 

Confederate Prison, Salisbury, N. C, - 

The Union Triumphant, - - - - - 

Gen. Sherman and Comrades en route to the Front, 

Mound Battery near Ft. Fisher, N. C, 

Interior View OF Ft. Fisher N. C, - - - - - 

Battlefield of Malvern Hill, Va., - - - - 

Pontoon Bridge, Jones Landing, James River, Va , 
Fort Darling, James River, Va. , . - - - 

Sherman's March by Torchlight through the Swamps of S. C. 
Death of General McPherson, - - - - - 

Gen. Granger to the Rescue of Gen. Thomas at Chickamauga, 
Battle of Gettysburg, ------ 

Battle op Lookout Mountain — above the clouds, 

The Assault at Fredericksburg, Va., - - - - 

The Assault at Roanoke Island, - - - - - 

Gen. Sheridan's Ride at the Battle of Winchester, - 

Battle op Antietam — crossing Burnside's Bridge, - 

Battle of Antietam— scene around Bunker's Church, 

Map of General Grant's Inland Route to Rear of Vicksburg, - 

Map of Petersburg and Richmond Campaign, - 

Map of General Grant's Tour Round the World, 

Map of Atlanta Campaign, ----- 

Map of Georgia Campaign, - - - - - 

Map of Savannah, Ft. Jackson, Ft. Pulaski and Hilton Head, 
Map of the Campaign of the Carolinas, - - - - 

Map op Gettysburg, First Day's Battle, 
" • Third ""..-- 



113 
143 
167 
167 
167 
312 
313 
319 
237 
261 
355 
375 
425 
447 



537 
63 
64 
137 
167 
189 
190 
211 
358 



CONTENTS 



CHAPTER I.— FIRST PLANS AND LEADERS. 

FAGB 

The First Great Plan of Carrying on the War— The Failure of Halleck's Admin- 
istration—Popular Errors Respectmg Generals and the War— Capable Leaders 
not Ready-Made, but grow to thoir Responsibilities— Our Generals not to be 
Blindly Eulogized, but their Mistakes, as well as Triumphs, to be Recorded— A 
True Narrative of their Rise to Greatness the only one Desirable, . . 1£ 

CHAPTER II.-LIEUTENANT-GENERAL GRANT. 

His Ancestry and Nativity— Brought up a Tanner— Enters West Point Military 
Academy— Brevetted Second Lieutenant, and sent to Jefferson Barracks, Mo.— 
Joins Taylor's Army in 3Iexico— After the Battle of Monterey, transferred to 
Scott's Army at Vera Cruz— Brevetted Captain for Gallantry at Chapultepec— 
His Marriage— Stationed at Detroit and Sackett's Harbor- Sent to Oregon- 
Resigns his Commission— Settles on a Farm near St. Louis— Goes to Galena and 
Sets up a Leather-Store in Connection with his Father— Breaking out of the 
War— Raises a Company— Appointed Colonel and sent into Missouri— Expedi- 
tion to and Capture of Belmont— His Horse shot under him~-The Cairo Expedi- 
tions—Expedition against Fort Henry— Capture of Fort Donelson— Ordered un- 
der Arrest— Advances to Pittsburg Landing— Battle of— His Defeat First Day- 
Sherman's Letter— Determination to Remove him from Command— Charges 
against— Fate ceases to persecute him— His Star in the Ascendant— Advance 
against Corinth— Loses his Temper with Halleck— His Conduct at Memphis- 
Battles of luka and Corinth— Turns his Attention to Vicksburg— Sherman's 
Failure at Vicksburg, ......... 2'' 

CHAPTER III.— VICKSBURG. 

Canal around it— Abandoned— The Steel's Bayou Route— A Failure— Grant Resolves 
to Run the Batteries with Gunboats and Transports— March of Troops around 
Vicksburg Inland— New Carthage— Port Gibson Reached— Battle at Raymond- 
March on Jackson— Vicksburg Invested— The Long Siege— The Surrender, . 59 

CHAPTER IV.-CHATTANOOGA. 

Fall of Port Hudson— The President's Letter to Grant— A Public Reception in 
Vicksburg— Visits New Orleans— Placed over the Military Division of the Mis- 
sissippi— Orders Sherman to March Across the Country to join Him— His Plan 
for Raising the Siege— The Battle— Missionary Ridge Carried— The President's 
Letter of Thanks— Congress Votes Him a Medal— Creation of the Rank of Lieu- 
tenant-General—Grant Nominated to It— Immense Preparations for the Coming 
Campaign— The Country's Patience Under Delays— Two Armies to Move Simul- 
taneously, ........... 79 

CHAPTER v.— THE RICHMOND CAMPAIGN. 

Character and Plan of the Campaign— The Three Days' Battle in the Wilderness- 
Lee's Retreat to Spottsylvania— Battles Before it— Grant, by a Flank Move- 
ment, Marches to the North Anna River— Battle of Cold Harbor— Strength of 
the Rebel Works— Crosses the James River and Attacks Petersburg— Is Re- 



14 OONTEI^S. 



pulsed— Siege of Richmond— The Mine of Burnside— Grant Defeated at Hatch- 
er's Run— Capture of Fort Fisher— Sherman Advancing— Attack on Fort Stead- 
man— Last Great Movement of the Army— Petersburg and Richmond Evacuated 
—The Surrender— A Momentous Sabbath— Surrender of Johnston— Collapse of 
the Rebellion— Joy of the People— Enthusiasm for Grant— His Character, . 99 

CHAPTER VI.— MAJOR-GENERAL WILLIAM T. SHERMAN. 

Sherman's Nativity and Early Life— Adopted by Mr. Ewing— Sent to West Point- 
Made Second-Lieutenant in the Third Artillery and Sent to Florida— Stationed 
at Fort Moultrie, South Carolina— Sent to California— Becomes President of 
a Banking House in San Francisco— Made President of the Louisiana State 
Military Academy— Resigns his Place— Visits Washington— Gives the Presi 
dent and Secretary of War his Views— Made Colonel and Fights at Bull 
Run— Made Brigadier of Volunteers— Interview with the Secretary of War 
and Adjutant-General — Pronounced Crazy — Relieved from Command and 
Sent to Jefferson Barracks- Commands a Division at Shiloh— Saves the Battle— 
The first to enter Corinth— Takes Holy Springs— Commands at Blemphis— His 
Attack on Vicksburg— Arkansas Post— Ordered to Chattanooga— Death of his 
Boy— Touching Letter to the Regiment, ...... 136 

CHAPTER VII.-CHATTANOOGA. • 

Sherman's March from the Mississippi to Chattanooga— Establishes Himself on Mis- 
sionary Ridge— The Morning Before the Battle— Opening of the Battle— The 
Victory — Ordered to March North to the Relief of Knoxville— At Vicksburg — The 
Expedition Into Central Mississippi— Placed Over the Mississippi Department 
— Plans the Atlanta Campaign — Its Originality — The Number and Distribution 
of His Forces, .......... 156 

CHAPTER VIII.-ATLANTA CAMPAIGN. 

Sherman's Foresight in Preparing for Contingencies — Battle of Resaca— Capture of 
Rome— Fight at Dallas— A Second Base Established— The Kenesaw Mount«iins— 
Strength of the Position— Desperate Assault — Chattahoochee River Reached — 
Terrible Assault on Thomas— Desperate Attack on McPherson— Heavy Rebel 
Losses— Capture of Stoneman— Cutting the Rebel Lines of Communication- 
Attack on Howard— Fight at Jonesboro'— Atlanta Evacuated— Destruction of 
Property— Slccum Takes Possession, ....... 169 

CHAPTER IX.— THE GEORGIA CAMPAIGN. 

Hood Attempts to Cut Sherman's Communications— Pursuit of Hood— Sherman's 
Original and Daring Plan— Burning of Rome— Of Atlanta— Starts for the Atlantic 
Ocean— Disposition of His Forces and Plan of Movement— The Two Marches 
—Soldiers Organize the Legislature— Augusta Threatened— March to Savannah 
—Savannah Reached and Invested— Storming of Fort McAllister— Surrender 
of Savannah — Hardee Retreats to Charleston — Sherman's Christmas Gift to the 
President, ........... 191 

CHAPTER X.-THE CAMPAIGN IN THE CAROLINAS. 

Sherman Plans His Northern Campaign— Sherman's Plan to Separate the Forces 
at Charleston and Augusta Completely Successful— The Railroad Between the 
Two Broken Up— Fall of Columbia— Charlotte Threatened and Beauregard Be- 
wildered—Fall of Charleston— The Army Wheels About and Marches on Fayette- 
vUle— Capture of FayettevUle and Communication Opened with Terry auc 
Schofield— Battle of Bentonville— Goldsboro Reached— The Campalga Virtually 
Ended— Sherman Visits Grant— His Return— News of the Fall of Petersburg— 



CONTENTS. 15 



PAQK 

Sherman Marches on Raleigh— News of Lee's Surrender— The Armistice— Con- 
duct of the Secretary of War— Vindication of Sherman— His Character, . 318 

CHAPTER XI.-MAJOR-GENERAL JAMES B. McPHERSON. 
His Worth at first not Appreciated— His Birth— Enters West Point— Graduates at 
the Head of his Class and Appointed Assistant Instructor of Practical Engi- 
neering—Charged with the Construction of Fort Delaware— Sent to Superintend 
the Fortifications Being Erected in the Bay of San Francisco— Ordered Home 
and sent to Boston Harbor— Sent to Aid Rosecrans— Commands the Seven- 
teenth Corps in the Campaign against Vicksburg— Capture of Jackson— Assault 
of Vicksburg— Placed Over the Army of the Tennessee— Terrible Fight Before 
Atlanta— His Death— His Character, ••••... 237 

CHAPTER XII.-MAJOR-GENERAL GEORGE H. THOMAS. 
His Resemblance to Washington— His Birth and Early Education— His Standing at 
West Point- Stands By the Old Flag— Commands in Patterson's Army— Is under 
Banks— Sent to Kentucky under General Anderson— Defeats ZoUicoffer— Made 
Major-General of Volunteers- Marches to Pittsburg Landing— His Bravery at 
Murfreesboro — His Brilliant Heroic Conduct at Cbickamauga— Commands the 
Centre under Grant in the Battle of Missionary Ridge— Sherman's Chief Reli- 
ance in the Atlanta Campaign— Assaulted by Hood— Sent to Nashville to Raise 
an Army— Battle of Nashville— His Character, . . . _ .261 

CHAPTER Xni.-MAJOR-GENERAL WINFIELD SCOTT HANCOCK. 
His Birth— Enters West Point— His Services in Mexico— Expedition to Utah— Made 
Brigadier-General— Gallant Charge at Williamsburg— His Services on the Penin- 
sula under McCleHan— Serves under Pope— Gallantry at Antietam— At Freder- 
icksburg— At Chancellorsville— Represents Meade at Gettysburg— The Battle- 
Is Wounded— Commands the Left Wing of the Grand Army— Battle of the 
Wilderness— Gallant Charge at Spottsylvania— Defeated at Hatcher's Run- 
Resigns his Command— Commands in the Shenandoah Valley- His Character 894 

CHAPTER XIV.— MAJOR-GENERAL HUGH J. KILPATRICK. 
His Birth and Early Life— Enters West Point— Becomes an Officer in Duryea's 
Zouaves— Made Lieutenant-Colonel in the Harris Light Cavalry— Seizes Fal- 
mouth— Gallant Operations Around Fredericksburg— Services in Pope's Cam- 
paign—Under Hooker— Raid on Richmond— His Fights Previous to the Battle 
of Gettysburg, and In It— Fight at Hagerstown— March to Williamsport— Ob- 
tains a Furlough— Operations on the Rapidan and Rappahannock— Gallant 
Attempt to Release the Prisoners in Richmond— Enters the Outworks of the 
Rebel Capital— Joins Sherman— Is Wounded at Resaca and Returns Home- 
Joins the Army Before Atlanta— Commands the Cavalry in the Georgia Cam- 
paign—Complimented by Sherman.— Threatens Augusta— His Address to His 
Troops— His Character, ....... gj^ 

CHAPTER XV.— MAJOR-GENERAL GEORGE G. MEADE. 
His Birth— Graduates at West Point— Serves in the Mexican War— Promoted for 
Gallant Conduct in the Battle of Monterey— Made Brigadier of Volunteers— His 
Career on the Peninsula— Is Desperately Wounded in the Battle of Glendale— 
Serves under Hooker at South Mountain and Antietam— After Hooker is 
Wounded Assumes Command of the Corps— At Chancellorsville— Appointed to 
the Command of the Army of the Potomac— Battle of Gettysburg— Headquarters 
under Fire-Strange Inaction in Front of Le§— Crosses the Potomac- Oom- 



16 CONTENTS. 



PASB 

pelled to Retreat to Bull Eun— Advances to the Rappahannock— Grant Places 
Himself at the Head of the Array of the Potomac— Grant and Meade Together- 
Character of the Latter, 347 

CHAPTER XVI.— MAJOR-GENERAL JOSEPH HOOKER. 

His Birth and Nativity— Enters West Point— Serves under Taylor in Mexico— Joins 
the Army of Genera Scott— Promoted for Gallant Conduct at Chapultepec— 
Resigns his Commission and Becomes a California Farmer — Appointed Briga- 
dier of Volunteers— Is Stationed Below Washington— Battle of Williamsburg— 
His After Services in the Army of the Potomac— Resigns his Position— Sent to 
Chattanooga to Assist Rosecrans— Occupies Lookout Valley— Battle Above the 
Clouds— His Gallant Record in the Atlanta Campaign— Offended at Howard's 
Promotion and Resigns, ......... 360 



CHAPTER XVII.— MAJOR-GENERAL HENRY WARNER SLOCUM. 

Slocum's Birth— Graduates at West Point— Sent to Florida— Stationed at Charles- 
ton Studies Law— Resigns his Commission and Opens a Law Office in Syracuse 

—Volunteers in the Army and is Made Colonel— Wounded at Bull Run— Made 
Brigadier-General — His Career on the Peninsula under McClellan — At South 
Mountain and Antietam — At Chancellorsville— Commands the Left AVing at 
Gettysburg— Placed Over the Department of Vicksburg— Cut Off by the Enemy 
—Defeats Him— Expedition to Port Gibson— Enters Atlanta— Placed Over the 
Left Wing of Sherman's Army— March Through Georgia— Through the Carolinas 
— Battles of Averysboro and Bentonville— His Character, . . . .381 

CHAPTER XVIII.— MAJOR-GENERAL WILLIAM S. ROSECRANS. 

His Birth and Parentage— Is sent to West Point— Is made Assistant ''rof essor in the 
Academy— His Early and Great Services as Engineer— Breaking out of the War 
—His First Services— Made Brigadier- General, and Ordered to Western Virginia 
—Rich Mountain— Carnifex Ferry— Defeats Lee— Is sent West— Under Halleck 
—Under Grant— Placed Over the Army of the Cumberland— Battle of Murfrees- 
boro— Captures Chattanooga— Battle of Chickamauga— Is Superseded by Tho- 
mas—Placed over the Missouri Department— His Character, . . .398 

CHAPTER XIX.— MAJOR-GENERAL JOHN SEDGEWICK. 

His Birth and Nativity— Enters West Point— Sent to Florida— Stationed at Buffalo 
—At New York— His Gallantry and Promotion in the Mexican War— Made Brig- 
adier-General of Volunteers— His Services on the Peninsula— Captures the 
Heights of Fredericksburg— March of His Corps to Gettysburg— Commands the 
Army of the Potomac— Commands the Right Wing of Grant's Army— Battle of 
the Wilderness— Killed at Spottsylvania— His Character, . . . .416 

CHAPTER XX.— MAJOR-GENERAL JOHN A. LOGAN. 

Logan's Birth and Nativity and Early Education — Serves in the Mexican War- 
Fights in the Banks at Bull Run — Raises a Regiment and is made Colonel — Gal- 
lantry at Belmont — Fort Henry — During the Vicksburg Campaign — Takes the 
Stump for the Administration— Placed Over Sherman's Corps in the Atlanta 
Campaign— Battle Before Atlanta— His Course in the Political Campaign of 1864 
Joins Sherman at Savannah— His Character and Personal Appearance, . 434 

CHAPTER XXI.— MAJOR-GENERAL AMBROSE E. BURNSIDE. 

His Ancestry and Nativity — Graduates at West Point— Sent to Mexico — Fight with 
Indians— Quartermaster of the Boundary Commission— Resigns— Colonel of a 



CON-TENTS. 1 7 



PAGE 

Rhode Island Regiment— Battle of Bull Run— The Expedition to Roanoke— Cap- 
tures Newbem— Battle of Fredericksburg— Resigns his Command— Captures 
Knoxville-Besieged by Longstreet— Authorized to Raise Fifty Thousand Vol- 
unteers- His Great Services in the Richmond Campaign— The Mine at Peters- 
burg—Retires from the Army— His Character, ..... 447 

CHAPTER XXII.— MAJOR GENERAL PHILIP HENRY SHERIDAN. 

His Nativity and Birth— His Belligerent Character— Narrowly Escapes Being Dis- 
graced—His Early Services— Personal Heroism— Sent West— Quartermaster 
under Curtis— Is Arrested— Made Captain of Cavalry— Gallant Fight near Boone- 
Tille— Serves under Buell and Rosecrans— Fights Desperately at Murf reesboro 
—At Chickamauga— Assaults Missionary Ridge— Placed Over the Cavalry of the 
Army of the Potomac— Put in Command of Shenandoah Valley— Battles with 
Early— Battle of Middletown— Raid to Lynchburg and Richmond — Joins Grant 
—Commences the Last Great Movement— Battle of Five Forks— Pursuit of Lee 
—Heavy Captures— The End— His Character, . . . . . 460 

CHAPTER XXIII.-MAJOR-GENERAL JOHN MCALLISTER SCHOPIELD. 

His Birth and Nativity— Graduates at West Point— Instructor at the Academy- 
Elected President of Washington College— Appointed Major— Commands the 
Militia of Missouri— The Army of the Frontier— The Missouri Department— One 
of the Three Armies of Sherman in the Atlanta Campaign— Battle of Franklin— 
Of Nashville— Of Kinston— Enters Goldsboro— His Character, . . .488 

CHAPTER XXIV.— MAJOR-GENERAL WILLIAM B. HAZEN. 

His Ancestry— Nativity— Enters West Point— Serves Against the Indians in Cali- 
fornia—Sent to Texas— Is Appointed Professor at West Point— Made Colonel of 
an Ohio Regiment— Gallantry at Shiloh— In the Battle of Murfreesboro— At 
Chickamauga — At Missionary Ridge — Sent to Relieve Knoxville — Atlanta and 
Georgia Campaigns— Storming of Fort McAllister— Takes Part in the Campaign 
of the Carolinas— His Character, ........ 496 

CHAPTER XXV.-MAJOR-GENERAL FRANZ SIGEL. 

His Nativity— Educated in the Military School at Carlsruhe— Joins the Revolution- 
ary Government— Driven from the Country and Comes to the United States — 
Made Colonel of Volunteers— Serves under Lyon— Battle of Carthage— Made 
Brigadier-General— His Gallantry at Pea Kidge— Made Major-General and Sta- 
tioned at Harper's Ferry — Supersedes Fremont— Placed over the Eleventh 
Corps— Given Command of the Shenandoah Department by Lincoln— Defeated 
by Breckenridge— Superseded by Huater— Stationed at Harper's Ferry— Resigns 
— Becomes Editor— Pension Agent at New York, ..... 513 

CHAPTER XXVI.-MAJOR-GENERAL ALFRED HOWE TERRY. 

His Birth arid Education— Commands a Regiment in the Battle of Bull Run— Occu- 
pies the P'ort on Hiltou Head— Assists Gillniore in the Capture of Fort Pulaski 
—Made Brigadier-General— Joins Gillniore on Morris Island in the Siege of 
Wagner and Siimter— Engaged in Various Actions Around Petersburg and Rich- 
mond—Captures Fort Fisher— Occupies Wilmington— Opens Communication 
with Sherman— Marches to Golds!)oro— His Present Command and Rank, . 520 

CHAPTER XXVII.-MAJOR-GENERAL JOHN A. McCLERNAND. 

His Nativity and Early Life— Volunteers to Fight the Indians— Resigns His Seat in 
Congress, and Raises a Brigade— His Gallantry at Belmont— Cairo Expedition 



18 CONTENTS. 

PAGE 

—Battle of Fort Donelson— Bravery at Shiloh— Placed over Sherman— Captures 
Arkansas Post— Leads the Advance in the Campaign of Vicksburg— Assault of 
Vicksburg— Is Removed by Grant— His Character, . . . . .528 

CHAPTER XXVIII.— MAJOR-GENERAL OLIVER OTIS HOWARD. 

Havelock of the Army— His Birth and Early Education— At West Point— Sent to 
Florida— His Conversion— Joins the Methodist Church— Appointed Instructor 
at West Point— Resigns and is Appointed Colonel of a Maine Regiment^Com- 
mands a Brigade at Bull Run— Made Brigadier— Loses an Arm at Pair Oaks- 
Gallantry at Antietam-His Great Services at Gettysburg— Sent West to Rein- 
force Rosecrans-Lookout Valley— Mission Ridge— Succeeds McPherson in the 
Command of the Army of the Tennessee— In the Georgia Campaign and the 
Campaign of the Carolinas— Placed over the Freedmen's Bureau- His Christian 
Character— AbUities as a General— Anecdotes of Him 538 

CHAPTER XXIX.— MAJOR-GENERAL QUINCY ADAMS GILLMORE. 

His Early Life— West Point— Sent to Fortress Monroe— A Teacher at West Point— 
stationed in New York— Chief Engineer of the Expedition to Port Royal-Cap- 
ture of the Fort— Placed over the Southern Department— Assault of Fort 
Wagner — Bombardment of Sumter— Capture of Fort Wagner- Charleston 
Shelled— Ordered North to Co-operate with Butler Below Richmond— Asks to bo 
Relieved from Serving under Butler— Ordered to Report to Canby— Placed 
again over the Southern Department— Co-operates with Sherman, . . 553 

CHAPTER XXX.— MAJOR-GENERAL GOUVERNEUR K. WARREN. 

Warren's Nativity— Graduates at West Point— Sent to the Southwest— Succeeds 
Lee on the Mississippi— His Great Labors in the Pacific Railroad Office— Cam- 
paign against the Sioux Indians— Appointed Professor of Mathematics at West 
Point— Made Lieutenant- Colonel of Volunteers— Acts as Brigadier in the Army 
of the Potomac— His Gallantry at Malvern Hill— His Brigade Cut up at Manassas 
— Antietam— Englneer-in-Chief at Gettysburg— Made Major-General— Commands 
the Centre of the Army of the Potomac under Grant— Battle of the Wilderness 
— His Gallantry at Spottsylvania— Destroys the Weldon Railroad— Saves Sheri- 
dan at Five Forks— Relieved from Command— After Services, &c., . . 563 

CHAPTER XXXI.-GENERAL GEORGE B. McCLELLAN. 

His Birth— Graduates at the Head of his Class at West Point— War with Mexico— 
His Horse Shot from under him at Contreras— Promoted— Sent on Exploring 
Expedition West— Resigns from the Army— Volunteers at the Breaking out of 
the Civil War— Made Major-General of Volunteers— Put in Command of the 
Army of the Potomac— Reorganizes It— Plan to take Richmond— On the Eve of 
Success Deserted— Battle of Fair Oaks— Retreat to James River— Recalled to 
Washington— Pope put in His Place— McClellan gut again at the Head of the 
Army— Saves the Capital at Antiotam— Dismissal from the Army— His Life 
After the War, 573 

CHAPTER XXXn. 
Biographical Notes— Appendix, ........ 681 



HEROES AND BATTLES. 

1861-65. 



CHAPTER I. 

THE FIRST GREAT PLAN OF OARETINQ ON THE WAR — THE FAILURE OF HAL- 
LEOk's administration — THE GREAT CHANGE IN AFFAIRS WHEN GRANT 

ASSUMED CONTROL OF OUR ARMIES POPULAR ERRORS RESPECTING GENERALS 

AND THE WAR — CAPABLE LEADERS NOT READY-MADE, BUT GROW TO THEIR 
RESPONSIBILITIES — MISTAKEN NOTION OF THE GOVERNMENT — WANT OF 
CHARITY OF THE PEOPLE — OUIi GENERALS NOT TO BE BLINDLY EULOGIZED, 

BUT THEIR MISTAKES, AS WELL AS TRIUMPHS, TO BE RECORDED A TRUE 

NARRATIVE OF THEIR RISE TO GREATNESS THE ONLY ONE DESIRABLE. 

We propose in this volume to take up the two mili- 
tary chieftains and the principal generals who brought 
this gigantic war to its triumphant close. At the outset 
a great plan was adopted by Scott, and afterward by 
McClellan, which, in its main features, consisted in having 
two great armies, one in the Mississippi valley, the other 
in front of Washington, move simultaneously forward 
east and west, driving the rebel armies before them, and 
subduing the country as they advanced. The navy, in 
the mean time, was to operate against the hostile sea- 
ports, closing up their commerce, or seizing them as new 
bases of supplies and movements inland of such forces 



20 GRANT AND SHERMAN. 

as would be needed to cooperate with the main armies. 
This plan was so carefully elaborated, that the exact 
number of men and guns thought to be necessary was 
given. It need not be added that this number was too 
small ; for, at the commencement of the war, no one north 
or south comprehended the magnitude of the struggle on 
which we had entered. However, the plan was put in 
operation ; the two armies moved, and the western one 
kept on its victorious march till it was stopped at Vicks- 
burg. The eastern one planted itself before Richmond, 
while Burnside made a lodgment on the coast of North 
Carolina. The failure at Richmond, and the removal of 
McClellan, though they did not cause any new plan to 
be adopted, left the old one in abeyance ; and during the 
two years that Halleck was general-in-chief, the war 
seemed to resolve itself into separate engagements, which 
gave us no permanent advantage, and took us not one 
step nearer the close of the conflict- 

The commencement of Halleck's reign was distin- 
guished, in the east, by the withdrawal of the army from 
the James — where every military man of sense knew it 
would have to be placed again — the defeat of Pope, and 
the invasion of Maryland ; in the west, by the retreat 
of Buell from before Chattanooga to Nashville, the in- 
vasion of Kentucky and Tennessee by Kirby Smith and 
Brao-o; till their forces threatened even Cincinnati, the 
evacuation of Cumberland Gap by Morgan, and the sur- 
render of all East Tennessee into the hands of the rebels. 

This sad beginning was made worse by the terrible 
defeat of Burnside at Fredericksburg, the equally dis- 
astrous failure of Hooker at Chancellorsville, and the 
invasion of Pennsylvania by Lee. West, Rosecrans 
finally pushed on to Cliattanooga, but was stopped there, 



THE FIRST GREAT PLAN. 21 

while everything indicated that he would be compelled to 
retreat, and the campaigns in Tennessee and Kentucky all 
have to be fought over again. Never did a general-in- 
chief before make up in so short a time so sad a record. 
That the President retained him in power so long, under 
such an accumulation of disasters, filled the country with 
surprise. The removal of subordinate leaders did not 
reach the source of the difficulty, and the war seemed 
farther than ever from its end, till the European powers 
came to the conclusion that it never could end, except in 
the independence of the South. But for the triumphs of 
the man who was soon to displace the incapable general- 
in-chief, and change all this, the discouragement of the 
patriot would have well-nigh reached despair. 

When Grant assumed the chief command, a new 
spirit was breathed into this chaotic mass ; order began 
to spring out of confusion, as at the creation of the 
world ; sea and land became separated, and harmony and 
design appeared where before blind chance seemed to 
rule. 

But although this great change came over the aspect 
of military affairs the moment Grant and Sherman were 
placed at the head of the two grand armies of the Union, 
it is not to be supj)osed that they were the only two 
great generals the war had produced, or the only ones 
who were able to bring it to a successful issue. It is an 
error to imagine, as many do, that the Government kept 
casting about for men fit to do the work these men did, 
and, after long searching, at length found them. Se^^e- 
ral were displaced, who would have, doubtless, succeede 
in bringing us ultimate victory, had they been allowed 
a fair trial. The error was in supposing that men, capa- 
ble of controlling such vast armies, and carrying on a 



22 GRANT AND SHERMAN. 

war of such magnitude and covering almost a con- 
tinent ill its SI, ope, were to be found ready-made. They 
were not to leap forth, like Minerva from the head 
of J upiter, completely panoplied and ready for the ser 
vice to which they were destined. A war of such mag 
nitude, and covering the territory that ours did, would 
have staggered the genius of Napoleon, or the skill of 
Wellington, even at the close of their long experience 
and training. To expect, therefore, that officers, who 
had never led ten thousand men to battle, were sud- 
denly to become capable of wielding half a million, was 
absurd. Both the army and the leaders, as well as the 
nation, had to grow by experience to the vastness of 
the undertaking. A mighty military genius, capable at 
once of comprehending and controlling the condition of 
things, would have upset the government in six months. 
Trammelled, confined, and baffled by " ignorance and un- 
belief," it would have taken matters into its own hand. 
Besides, such prodigies do not appear every century. We 
were children in such a complicated and wide-sweeping 
struggle ; and, like children, were compelled to learn to 
walk by many a stumble. Greene, next to Washington, 
was the greatest general our revolutionary war produced ; 
yet, in almost his first essay, he lost Fort Washington, 
with its four thousand men, and seriously crippled his 
great leader. But Washington had the sagacity to dis- 
cern his military ability beneath his failure, and still gave 
him his confidence. To a thinkmg man, that was evidently 
^he only way for us to get a competent general — one capa- 
ble of planning and carrying out a great campaign. Here 
was our vital error. The Government kept throwing dice 
for able commanders. It is true that experience will not 
make a great man out of a naturall}^ weak one ; but it is 



FALSE VIEWS OF GENERALS. 28 

equally true that without it, a man of great natural mili- 
tary capacity will not be equal to vast responsibilities and 
combinations. Our experience proved this; for both 
Grant and Sherman came very near sharing the fate of 
many that preceded them. Nothing but the President's 
friendship and tenacity saved the former after the battle 
of Pittsburo;h Landins;. His overthrow was determined 
on ; while the latter was removed from the department of 
Kentucky, as a crazy man. Great by nature, they were 
fortunately kept where they could grow to the new and 
strange condition of things, and the magnitude of the 
struggle into which we had been thrown. If the process 
of changing commanders the moment they did not keep 
pace with the extravagant expectations of the country, 
and equally extravagant predictions of the Government, 
had been continued, we should have been floundering to 
this day amid chaos and uncertainty. 

The same principle will apply to the Government. To 
expect that it would rise at once to the true magnitude 
and comprehensiveness of this unprecedented war, was un- 
just. Errors on its part were as inevitable, as mistakes 
on the part of generals. The Administration had got to 
grow to the new and complicated condition of things, as 
well as the army and the leaders. Not .recognizing this 
necessity, made the people very wanting in charity and 
proper consideration for the Government. Many talked 
and acted as if they thought that the mere fact that a 
man was President, rendered him equal to any emergency 
and to any demand. The President, like the people 
themselves, and the army and the generals, must gradual- 
ly and through many errors feel his way to the true com- 
prehension of such an unprecedented struggle. We 
demanded that neither should make any mistakes, and 



24 GRANT AND SHERMAN. 

looking only at our vast power and resources, were im- 
patient that they were not gathered up at once, and 
vielded with a skill and prescience superhuman. In 
ihort, we demanded that men, suddenly placed in the 
most difficult positions that ever tried the capacity of 
mortals, should do what nobody but a weak and vain 
person pretended he himself could have done, were he to 
stand in their place. After events have transpired, it is 
a common and withal an easy and shallow criticism to 
say, " It could have been better done." In art, literature, 
and war, it is all the same. Any one can say it, and 
claim wisdom in the utterance. 

We have said this much, because in the present 
work we do not design to indulge in blind eulogy, but 
shall speak of errors, as well as successes — show how cir- 
cumstances developed character and wrought out great" 
ness. Truly great men do not like indiscriminate flattery. 
Aware that they have gained by experience, even by 
defeats themselves, they cheerfully acknowledge it, and 
repudiate the claim of perfect wisdom and a sagacity that 
never allowed them to err. They love truth as well as 
praise, and the more discriminating the latter is, the 
higher it is prized. The ability to redeem errors, and 
obtain final success in spite of mistakes, is the strongest 
evidence of true greatness. Next to being great one's 
self, is the sagacity to see capacity in others, and thus 
be able to select the instruments apjjropriate for the work 
to be done. In this respect, both Grant and Sherman 
were distinguished above ordinary men. 



CHAPTER 11. 

LIEUTENANT-GENERAL GRANT. 

HIS ANOESTKT AND NATIVITY — BEOTIGHT UP A TANNER — ENTERS WEST POINT 
MILITARY ACADEMY — BEEVETTED SECOND LIEUTENANT, AND SENT TO JET- 

FEE80N BARRACKS, MO. JOINS TAYLOR'S ARMY IN MEXICO AFTER THS 

BATTLE OF MONTEREY, TRANSFERRED TO SCOTt'S ARMY AT VERA CRUZ — 
MADE QUARTERMASTER OF HIS REGIMENT BREVETTED CAPTAIN FOR GAL- 
LANTRY AT ClIAPULTEPEO — HIS MARRIAGE — STATIONED AT DETROIT AND 
SACKETT's HARBOR — SENT TO OREGON— RESIGNS HIS COMMISSION — SETTLES 
ON A FARM, NEAR ST. LOUIS ACTS AS COLLECTOR OF DEBTS FOR HIS NEIGH- 
BORS — GOES TO GALENA AND SETS UP A LEATHER-STORE IN CONNECTION 

"WITH HIS FATHER— -BREAKING OUT OF THE WAR OFFERS HIS SERVICES TO 

THE GOVERNMENT, AND RAISES A COMPANY — MADE ADJUTANT-GENERAL OF 
THE STATE — REFUSES A BEIGADIEESHIP — APPOINTED COLONEL AND SENT 

INTO MISSOURI MADE BRIGADIER, AND ASSIGNED TO THE DISTRICT OF CAIRO 

— EXPEDITIOX TO BELMONT, AND CAPTURE OF THE ENEMY's CAMP — HIS HORSE 
SHOT UNDER HIM — HIS CONGRATULATORY ORDER — HIS DISTRICT ENLARGED — 
THE CAIRO EXPEDITIONS — A STRICT ORDER — PRIVATE PROPERTY TO BE RES- 
PECTED — EXPEDITION AGAINST FORT HENRY — INVESTMENT AND CAPTURE OF 
FORT DONELSON — THE BATTLE— ORDERED UNDER ARREST — PUT OVER THE 
WEST TENNESSEE DEPARTMENT ADVANCES TO PITTSBURG LANDING — BAT- 
TLE OF HIS DEFEAT FIRST DAY SHEKMAn'S LETTER DETERMINATION TO 

REMOVE HIM FROM COMMAND— CHARGES AGAINST FATE CEASES TO PERSE- 
CUTE HIM— HIS STAR IN THE ASCENDANT ADVANCE AGAINST CORINTH- 
LOSES HIS TEMPER WITH HALLECK — HIS CONDUCT AT MEMPHIS BATTLES 

OF lUKA AND CORINTH — TURNS HIS ATTENTION TO VIOKSBURG — SHERMAN's 
FAILURE AT VIOKSBURG. 

Hie AM Ulysses Grant, or, as he was known, Ulysses 
S. Grant, was of Scotch descent, and in those great quali- 
ties which distinguished him, showed that Scotch blood 
still flowed strongly through his veins. His father was a 



28 LIEUTENANT-GENERAL GRANT. 

native of Westmoreland Co., Pennsylvania, but in 1794 
removed to Ohio. Ulysses was born at Point Pleasant, 
Clermont Co., of the latter State, April 27th, 1822. His 
father was a tanner by trade, to which business he also 
was brought up. Receiving only the limited education 
which at the time could be furnished in what was called 
the Far West, he grew up a sturdy youth, differing little 
from scores of hard-working young men around him. 
When eighteen years of age, he succeeded, through the 
influence of Mr. Hamer, member of Congress from Ohio, 
in obtaining an appointment in the Military Academy 
at West Point. He labored under great disadvantage, 
in comparison with many young men in his class, in his 
want of knowledge of the preparatory studies which they 
possessed. He made up, however, for all deficiencies in 
this respect, by his close application and perseverance. 

A mistake in entering his name on the books at West 
Point, changed it from the baptismal one. His grand- 
mother wished him named Ulysses, after the Grecian 
hero, but his grandfather preferred that of Hiram ; so the 
matter was compromised by calling him Hiram Ulysses. 
Mr. Hamer, in presenting his name for a cadetship, by 
mistake wrote it Ulysses S. Grant. With that name, 
therefore, he graduated, and by it has ever since gone. 
He graduated in 1843, No. 21 in his class, which indicated 
only a good respectable standing. Appointed brevet 
second lieutenant in the Fourth Regular Infantry, he 
joined his regiment, stationed at Jefferson Barracks, and 
the next spring moved with it up the Red River, to do 
frontier duty. In 1845, when trouble began to arise 
between this country and Mexico, Taylor was sent to 
Corpus Christi with an " Army of Occupation," of which 
Grant's regiment formed a part. He was soon after pro- 



TRE YOUTH OF GRANT. 29 

moted to a full second lieutenant. In 1846 war was 
declared by Mexico, and Grant's active military life com- 
menced. He marched with Taylor from Point Isabel, 
and participated in the battles of Resaca and Palo Alto. 
When the army moved into the interior, his regiment 
accompanied it, and took part in the hotly-contested 
battle of Monterey. Transferred to the army of General 
Scott, he was appointed quartermaster of his regiment, 
and took part in every battle between Vera Cruz and the 
City of Mexico. For his gallantry at Molino del Pey, 
he was appointed brevet iirst lieutenant. In the battle 
of Chapultepec, which occurred a few days after, he so 
distinguished himself, that he was brevetted captain, and 
honorably mentioned in the despatches. He with Cap- 
tain Brooks, and a few men, by a skilful move on the left 
flank of the enemy at the first barrier, compelled the 
Mexicans to seek safety in flight. His intrepidity on the 
occasion was so conspicuous, that Garland made special 
mention of him. At the close of the war, he married a 
Miss Dent, of St. Louis, ]\Iissouri, and soon after was 
stationed at Detroit. From thence he was transferred to 
Sackett's Harbor. Subsequently, a force being sent to 
Oregon, he accompanied it, and here, in 1852, received 
his full commission as captain. The next year he re- 
signed his commission, and settled in St. Louis, Missouri, 
on a small farm near his father-in-law. The rough life, 
however, t;o which he was now subjected, did not suit 
him, nor the duties of a collector of debts, which he at 
one time undertook to be, for his neighbors. 

The young captain was getting along indifterently well 
in Missouri, and the prospect before him was not very 
flattering, when he received a letter from his father, invit- 
ing him to go into the leather-trade with him. Glad of 



30 LIEUTENANT-GENERAL GRANT. 

a chance to improve his condition, he at once removed to 
Galena, lUinois, and in 1859 settled do^vn to the leather 
business, for which his military career was not the best 
preparation he could have had. 

The sign of " Grant & Son, Leather Dealers," in the 
far West, stands in strong contrast to the name of Lieu- 
tenant-General Grant, as five years after it stood written 
in the front of the temple of military fame. 

The prospect before him at this time was, that he would 
obtain a fair competence in his business, and live and 
die a respectable citizen of Galena. But the troubles 
that had long been brewing between the North and 
South came to a head on the election of Mr. Lincoln. 
Grant had voted against him, for he saw, like many 
others, the danger to the Republic of a sectional issue. 
But when the news of the fall of Fort Sumter startled 
the nation, his old military ardor was aroused. The flag 
under which he had so often perilled his life had been 
struck down by traitors, and his business was at once cast 
to the winds. Saying, " Uncle Sam educated me for the 
army ; and although I have served faithfully through one 
war, I feel that I am still a little in. debt for my education, 
and I am ready to discharge it and put down this rebel- 
lion." He immediately organized a company and tendered 
it to the Governor, and applied for a commission; but, it 
is said, failed to get it. Applications of that sort were 
numerous enough, and, at that period of the war, reserved 
too mucli lor political friends. The Governor, however, 
being ignorant of the details of military organization, 
employed him to assist in organizing the quota of the 
State, as Adjutant-General. 

Two weeks after. Governor Yates proposed to send his 
name to Washington for the appointment of Brigadier- 



HIS FIRST EXPEDITION. 31 

General. Grant refused his consent, curtly replying that 
he did not ask promotion, he wanted to earn it. 

In June, 1861, he was appointed Colonel of the 
Twenty-first Regiment, that its own colonel could not 
manage ; and though his rather sliabby appearance at first 
excited the soldiers' ridiculej they soon found they had a 
man to deal with who was accustomed to obedience. 

He was first sent into Missouri, but in August, being 
made Brigadier-General, he was assigned to the district of 
Cairo. He at once took possession of Paducah, an im- 
portant position for future operations. 

The enemy at this time had a large force, under Polk^ " 
at Columbus, also a camp and garrison opposite, at Bel- 
mont. Grant, finding his force too small to attack the 
former place, determined to break up the camp at the lat- 
ter. The object of the expedition, he said, was to prevent 
the enemy from sending out reinforcements to Price's 
army in Missouri, and also from cutting oif columns that 
he had despatched after Jeft'. Thompson. In order not to 
be overwhelmed by the garrison at Columbus, he asked 
General Smith, commanding at Paducah, to make a de- 
monstration against the former place, which he did, by 
sending a small force, that was not to advance nearer, how- 
ever, than twelve or fifteen miles. He also despatched 
another small force on the Kentucky side, for the same 
purpose, with directions not to advance nearer than EUi- 
cott's Mills, twelve miles from Columl^us, These demon- 
strations against a place, with small detachments halting 
twelve or fifteen miles away, we hardly think he would 
order now. 

The force under his o^vn command was two thousand 
eight hundred and fifty strong. These were embarked in 
transports on the evening of the 6th of NDvember, and 



32 LIEUTENANT-GENERAL GRANT. 

moved down to the foot of Island No. Ten, within 
eleven miles of Columbus, where they stopped for the 
night, tied up to the Kentucky shore. At daylight, next 
morning, the transports moved quietly down-stream till 
almost within range of the rebel guns, when they were 
quickly pushed to the Missouri shore, and the troops 
landed. The gunboats Tyler and Lexington accompanied 
them. 

The cannon were hauled by hand up the steep banks, 
amid dropping shot and shell from the rebel encampment, 
from which, as it occupied an elevated position. Grant's 
movements could be distinctly seen. 

The troops, after landing, passed through some corn- 
fields and halted, preparatory to an advance. Colonel 
Buford was ordered to make a detour to the right, and 
come down on the rebel camp in that direction. The 
main army then moved forward till it arrived within a 
mile and a half of the abattis that the rebels had piled 
in their front. This was composed of trees, that for 
several hundred yards had been felled with their tops 
pointing outward, and the limbs sharpened, so that a 
dense breastwork of points confronted any force advanc- 
ino- down the river. The o-unboats in the meantime 
were engaging the batteries at Columbus. 

As the columns . advanced, the dropping fire of the 
skirmishers showed that the enemy had been met, and 
was determined to dispute every inch of ground to their 
encampment. The Thirtieth and Thirty-first having been 
sent forward to relieve the skirmishers, a spirited action 
was commenced, which lasted for half an hour, in which 
our ranks were thrown into disorder. Colonels Foulke 
and Logan, however, soon rallied them, and drove the 
enemy back for a quarter of a mile, where, being rein- 



BATTLE OF BELMONT. 33 

forced, they attempted to turn McClernand's left flank. 
Being defeated in this by a prompt movement of Colonel 
Logan, and suddenly swept by a fierce fire of artillery and 
musketry, they began to show signs of wavering. Foulke 
and Logan, sword in hand, shouted to their men, urging 
them forward by stirring appeals, which were answered 
with cheers, and these raw troops stood up like veterans 
to their work. 

The officers, however, had to set the example of ex- 
posure, for now, added to the fire in front, the batteries 
at Columbus, which had ceased firing at the gunboats, 
sent their huge projectiles crashing through the tree-tops 
overhead. Grant and McClernand were both in the thick- 
est of the fight, exposing themselves like the commonest 
soldier. The latter, while leading a gallant charge, re- 
ceived a ball in his holster ; and the horse of Grant was 
killed under him. While this struggle was going on, a 
tremendous fire from the Twenty-seventh broke over the 
woods, to the right and rear of the rebel encampment. 
The other reo-iments havino; now worked their wav into 
line through the brushwood, the whole closed sternly up 
on three sides of the abattis at once, and sweeping rapidly 
forward, drove the enemy pell-mell through it. Follow- 
ing close on their heels, our excited troops dashed through 
and over with a cheer. The sight of the Twenty-seventh 
in the open space beyond roused all their ardor, and they, 
too, soon stood in the clear ground around the camp. The 
artillery opened on the tents, not three hundred yards dis- 
tant, and the rebels broke for the river and the woods like a 
flock of frightened sheep. A detachment having rallied 
in the woods, McClernand galloped thither, and came near 
losing his life — one ball grazing his head, another hitting 
his horse in the shoulder, while others cut his trappings. 



34 LIEUTENANT-GENERAL GRANT. 

The camp being ours, McClernand called for three 
cheers for the Union, which were given with a will ; the 
flag went proudly up, while the bands struck up national 
airs. The torch was then applied to the tents and bag- 
gage, and in a moment the spot was wrapt in flames and 
smoke. The enraged enemy across the river at Columbus 
now turned their batteries on the smoking camp, and soon 
shot and shell were hurtling through the air on every side. 
Grant saw at once that he could not stay here ; and to 
hasten his departure, he was told that the rebels at Colum- 
bus had thrown a large force across the river, directly in 
his rear, and between him and his transports. The ar- 
tillery was immediately turned on them, while Logan 
ordered his flag to the front, and moved straight on the 
enemy, followed by the whole army, except Buford's 
Regiment, the Twenty-seventh, and two Cavalry com- 
panies, that returned by the same circuitous route by 
which they advanced. 

The rebels gave way as our banners advanced, and 
the transports were again reached, and the troops hurried 
on board. Col. Dougherty, while hurrying up the rear, 
was shot three times ; and his horse falling on him, he 
was taken prisoner. 

It was a spirited contest. The Seventh Iowa especially 
fought gallantly, losing their lieutenant-colonel and 
major, the colonel himself being wounded. Our total 
loss was about three hundred, while that of the rebels 
was nearly a thousand — a great disparity, especially 
when it is considered that we were the attacking party, 
and the former fought a part of the time behind defences. 
Two guns were brought off, and two more spiked, and 
some battle-flags captured, together with many prisoners 
Grant was delighted with the conduct of his men and 



THE VICTORY. 35 

officers, and, in a letter to his father, giving an account 
of the battle, he said, " I am truly proud to command 
such men." 

He issued a congratulatory order to his troops, the 
first he ever penned after a battle, vi^hich stands in such 
striking contrast to those of his later campaigns, that we 
give it entire : 

Heasquakters Distbict, S. C, Mo., ) 
Caieo, November 8, 1861. { 

The General commanding this Military District returns his thanks to the 
troops under his command at the battle of Belmont on yesterday. 

It has been his fortune to have been in all the battles fought in Mexico 
by Generals Scott and Taylor, except Buena Vista, and he never saw one 
more hotly contested, or where troops behaved with more gallantry. 

Such courage will insure victory wherever our flag may be borne and 
protected by such a class of men. To the brave men who fell the sympathy 
of the country is due, and will be manifested in a manner unmistakable. 

U. S. Grant, 
Brigadier-General Commanding, 

Though this action was gallantly fought, it injured, 
rather than helped, the opening prospects of Grant. It 
being generally thought that the object of the expedition 
was to take Columbus, it was regarded as a total failure, 
and so reported by the rebels. 

Even afterwards, when its true object was made 
knoAvn, the praise awarded him was faint. It was not 
clear how marching into a hostile camp, and then re- 
treating, could effect the object he said he wished to se- 
cure. A few hours would suffice to reestablish the camp 
and restore things to their old status, and the movements 
he proposed to check could go on as well as ever. As a 
lesson of experience to the men, it was, doubtless, valua- 
ble ; but, on the whole, one fails to see what good was 
actually accomplished that would compensate for the loss, 
or discern the wisdom of the expedition. Since the close 



36 LIEUTENANT-GENERAL GRANT. 

of the war, however, Grant has, for the first time, pub- 
lished his report of the expedition, which will be found 
in the Appendix. [See first edition.] 

His next movement, also, failed to awaken any general 
confidence in his ability. During the winter, Halleck, 
having been appointed over the Western Department, 
enlarged Grant's district, who began to assemble troops 
in Paducah, and at other points, to be ready for a move- 
ment upon the enemy. In the very heart of winter it 
commenced, and three grand columns, under Paine, 
McClernand, and C. F. Smith, in all nineteen regiments 
of infantry, six of cavalry, and seven batteries, moved 
off, as it was supposed, against Columbus. " The Cairo 
Expedition," as it was called, ended in nothing. J^lc- 
Clernand, with some five thousand men, made a march 
of seventy-five miles over ice, and through snow and 
mud, while the cavalry marched a hundred and forty, and 
came back again, reporting that some new roads had been 
discovered, foolish reports exploded, the inhabitants im- 
pressed with our military strength, &c., and that was all. 
Doubtless Grant had some plan for taking Columbus, 
but found himself unable to carry it out. This second 
essay certainly did not promise much for his future re2:>u- 
tation. He had thus far exhibited only moderate ability. 
He, however, had shown, in two orders which he issued, 
the temper of the man. Some of his pickets being shot 
near Cairo, he ordered all the inhabitants within six 
miles to be brought into camp and properly guarded. 
"The intention," he said, "was not to make political 
prisoners of these people, but to cut off a dangerous clasa 
of spies." " This order," he said, " applied to all classes, 
conditions, age, and sex." 

The other was desio;ned to ouide the conduct of the 



CAIRO EXPEDITION. 37 

troops in the grand " Cairo Expedition." He said, 
" Disgrace having been brought upon our brave fellows by 
the bad conduct of some of their members, showing, on all 
occasions, when passing through territory occupied by 
sympathizers of the enemy, a total disregard of the rights 
of citizens, and being guilty of wanton destruction of 
private property, the General Commanding desires and 
intends to enforce a change in this respect." ****** 

" It is ordered that the severest punishment be inflicted 
upon every soldier who is guilty of taking or destroying 
private property, and any commissioned officer guilty of 
like conduct, or of countenancing it, shall be deprived of 
his sword, and expelled from the army, not to be per- 
mitted to return," etc. 

It will stand recorded to his enduring honor, that, 
amid all the exasperation, public clamor, and private 
temptations, that carried so many beyond the limits and 
laws of civilized warfare, he maintained a character above 
reproach. Many of our officers were guilty of atrocious 
violations of private property, whose conduct has thus far 
escaped public condemnation ; but when the present 
chaotic state of affairs has wholly given place to calm 
reflection and Christian feeling, they will stand side by 
side in history with those epauletted marauders that dis- 
graced the Engiisli flag, both in our flrst and second wars 
with England. 

Grant's record in this respect is untarnished. What 
he was at first, he continued to be to the last, temperate 
in judgment, dispassionate in feeling, and forbearing in 
the hour of victory. 

When, for the third time, public attention was fixed 
on Grant, fortune seemed still unwilling to smile upon 
him. Foote had been engaged all winter in preparing a 



38 LIEUTENANT-GENERAL GRANT. 

fleet to descend the Mississippi, and the public supposed 
that Columbus was to be the first point attacked ; but in 
the previous autumn a different plan had been discussed 
at Washino;ton, and when Buell was assigned to Ken- 
tucky, he took it with him. This was to ascend the 
Cumberland and Tennessee rivers, that flow north to 
the Ohio, and thus flank Columbus, and pierce the heart 
of Tennessee. The land force was put under General 
Grant, and early in February the expedition set out. 
He divided it in such a manner as to prevent the escape 
of the garrison, when it should be driven out of the fort 
by Foote's shells. 

When the latter, on the morning of the 6th, was un- 
mooring from the bank where the fleet had lain all night, 
several miles below the fort, he told Grant that he must 
hurry forward his columns, or he would not be up in 
time to take part in the action, and secure the prisoners." 
The latter smiled incredulously. But recent rains had 
made the cart-paths and roads so heavy, that his pro- 
gress was slow. As he toiled forward, the heavy can- 
nonading, as Foote advanced to the attack, broke over the 
woods, and rolled in deep vibrations down the shore, 
quickening his movements. Before, however, the fort 
was reached, the firing ceased. Grant was perplexed at 
the sudden termination of the contest ; it did not seem 
possible that the fort had been taken so soon ; it was far 
more probable that the gunboats had fallen back disabled. 
He sent scouts forward to ascertain the truth, which 
soon came galloping back with the news that our flag was 
flying above the fort. The unexpected tidings rolled dowr. 
the line, followed by long and deafening cheers. Grant, 
mth his staff, spurred forward, and in half an hour rode 
into the fort, which was immediately turned over to him. 



INVESTMENT OF FORT DONELSON. 39 

It was a great victory, but unfortunately he had taken no 
part in the contest that secured it, nor did he arrive in 
time to prevent the escape of a large portion of the garri- 
son. He determined, however, in his next movement, to 
make up for his disappointment in this. The reduction 
of Fort Heruy, on the Tennessee, was only a preliminary 
step to the reduction of Fort Donelson, nearly opposite 
on the Cumberland, some twelve miles distant, and the 
key to Nashville. Leaving a garrison in the former. 
Grant struck across the country, with his army of fifteen 
thousand men, while six regiments were sent off by water 
to • cooperate with the gunboats, which were to attack 
the fort from the river-side. 

Foote having arrived first before the fort, and landed 
the troops and supplies for the main army, advanced 
against it on the 14th, and endeavored to capture it as 
he did Fort Henry. But although he carried his vessels 
gallantly into action, and held them for a long time under 
the overwhelming fire of the batteries, he was finally com- 
pelled to give it up, and drop, crippled, out of the fight. 
Grant had arrived two days before, and spent the inter- 
mediate time in completing the investment of the place. 
The fort stood on a high bluff, with a wooded, broken 
country in front, seamed with ravines that alternated with 
rocky heights and stretches of timber and underbrush, 
which ]nade the approach to it difficult. Floyd com- 
manded, with Pillow and Bucknei' as subordinates, and 
had a force of nearly twenty thousand men. Grant, in 
investing the place, sent McClernand's division, com- 
posed of three brigades, to the south, his right resting on 
the river above it. General Smith's was below, the army 
stretching back in a semicircle, till the extremes met 
in the centre. It was cold weather, in the middle of 



40 LIEUTENANT-GENERAL GRANT. 

February, and amid rain, sleet, and snow, the troops suffer- 
ed severely. The rebel officers, when they saw the place 
completely invested, felt that something must be done at 
once, or they Avould be starved into surrender. A council 
of \^•ar was therefore called, in which it was resolved to 
attempt to open a passage through our lines, on the right, 
to Nashville. It was Grant's purpose to intrench himself 
in his position, and wait till the gunboats were repaired, 
and then make a simultaneous attack by land and water. 
This plan, however, was frustrated by the determination 
of the enemy. 

On the morning of the 15th, Grant repaired on board 
the flag-ship of Foote, to consult upon the time and man- 
ner of making it, when the rebels issued from their 
trenches, and, without a note of warning, fell like a thun- 
derbolt on IMcClernand. Buckner, in the meantime, to 
keep the latter from being reinforced, was ordered to move 
out on the Wynns Ferry road, upon our centre. Pillow 
commanded the attacking force on our right, variously 
estimated at from ten to twelve thousand men. Heralded 
by three commanding batteries, attended by a regiment 
of cavalry, they struck McClernand's right with a force 
that threatened to sweep it from the field. But the brave 
lUinoians stood manfully up to their work, and the 
battle had hardly commenced, before it was at its height. 
The country was wooded, and covered with underbrusli, 
and broken into hollo^\^s and ridges, rendering a survey 
of the field impossible. Our lines extended for two miles 
around the fort, and this sudden uproar early in the morn- 
ing, on our extreme right, along the banks of the Cum- 
berland, called each division into line of battle. Lew. 
Wallace was posted next to McClernand, on the toj) 
of a high ridge, with forests sweeping off to the front 



ATTACK ON MoCLERNAND. 41 

and rear. When the deep and mingled roar of artillery 
and muskcitry broke over the woods, he thought McCler- 
nand had moved on the enemy's works. But that brave 
chieftain was making, instead, desperate efforts to hold his 
own against the overwhelming numbers that, momentarily 
increasing, pressed his lines, with a fierceness that threat- 
ened his complete overthrow. Finding, at length, that 
his troops were giving way, he, at eight o'clock, sent off 
a staff-officer at full speed to Wallace, for help. The 
latter had received orders from Grant to hold the position 
he occupied, in order to keep the enemy from escaping in 
that direction, and dared not move ; and so hurried off the 
courier with his despatch to headquarters. But Grant 
not being there, the latter kept on to the gunboats, in 
search of him. McClernand, wondering that no help 
came, and seeing his lines swinging back, despite the heroic 
efforts of the commanders, hastened off another messen- 
ger to Wallace, saying that his flank was turned, and his 
whole division was wavering. Wallace could wait no 
longer to hear from Grant, and immediately despatched 
Colonel Croft, commanding a brigade, to his help. Losing 
his way, the latter marched clear round, almost to the 
river, when he was suddenly attacked by an overwhelm- 
ing force. Though he bravely met the assault, confusion 
followed, through ignorance of each other s whereabouts 
and purposes. After a short and sanguinary struggle, the 
enemy suddenly left him and bore heavily down on 
McClernand again. Wallace all this time sat on his 
horse, listening to the steady crash to the right that made 
the wintry woods resound, when there burst into view a 
crowd of fugitives, rushing up the hill on which he stood. 
The next moment an officer dashed on a headlong gallop 
up the road, shouting, " We are cut to pieces." Seeing 



42 LIEUTENANT-GENERAL GRANT. 

his whole line of the third brigade beginning to shake 
before this sudden irruption, he ordered its commander to 
move on by the right flank, he himself riding at its head 
to keep it steady. He had not gone far before he met 
portions of regiments in full retreat, yet without panic or 
confusion, calling aloud for ammunition. To his inquiry, 
how the battle was going. Colonel Wallace told him, coolly, 
as though it were the most ordinary circumstance, that 
the enemy was close behind, and would soon attack him. 
He immediately formed his line of battle, and sent off to 
the left for help. The retiring regiments kept on to the 
rear, a short distance, and refilled their cartridge-boxes. 
Scarcely Avas this new line of battle formed, when the 
rebels, following up their advantage on the right, swooped 
down, confident of victory, full upon him. The shock 
was firmly met, and the enemy brought to a pause. Hours 
had passed in the meantime, and McClernand was dis- 
puting every inch of ground he was compelled to yield. 
Desperate fighting over batteries ; repulses and advances of 
regiments and brigades ; shouts and yells heard amid the 
intervals of the uproar, sweeping like a thunder-storm 
through the leafless woods, out of which burst clouds of 
smoke, as though a conflao-ration was rao;ino; below : hur- 
rying crowds in all the openings, — combined to make up 
the terrific scene that was displayed that wintry morning 
on the banks of the Cumberland. About three o'clock, 
Grant rode on the field, to find his right thown far back, 
ammunition exhausted, and the ranks in confusion. Most 
generals in this crisis would have retired their troops, 
formed a new line, and waited till the attack could be re- 
newed with the assistance of the gunboats. But the 
enemy not following up his advantage at this critical mo- 
ment, showed to his quick eye that his strength was ex- 



ASSAULT OF WALLACE. 43 

hausted, the force of his blow spent ; and he immediately 
ordered General Smith, on the extreme left, down the 
river — who had been comparatively idle during the day — 
to move at once u^^on the enemy's works in his front. It 
was a bold undertaking, but one of those sudden inspira- 
tions which, taken in the heat of battle, often decides its 
fate. Napoleon once said, " A. battle often turns on a 
single thought." It was true in this case. In order to dis- 
tract the enemy, while Smith was moving to this desperate 
task, he directed McClernand — exhausted and shattered 
as he was — to recover his lost ground, piled with his own 
dead, and assault the rebel works, from before which he 
had been driven. Wallace commanded the assaulting 
columns, composed of the two brigades of Colonels 
Smith and Croft. As the brave regiments moved past 
him, he coldly told them that desperate work was before 
them. Instead of being discouraged by this, they sent up 
loud cheers, and " Forward, forward," ran along the ranks. 
" Forward, then ! " he shouted, in turn. Through dense 
underbrush, over out-cropping ledges of rock, across open 
stony places, up the steep acclivity, swept by desolating vol- 
leys, they boldly charged, or climbed like mountain-goats. 
Now lying down to escape the murderous volleys, then 
rising with a cheer, they pushed on till they got within a 
hundred and fifty yards of the intrenchments, when the 
order came to fall back. It was now dark, and, disobey- 
ing the order, Wallace kept the hard-won position. H(i 
did not know at the time the brilliant success won on the 
left by Smith. Newspaper correspondents had denounced 
the latter as a Southern sympathizer, and he was about 
to show them an example of the workings of that sym- 
pathy. The intrenched hill in front of him commanded 
the interior works of the enemy, and on its bristling top he 



44 LIEUTENANT-GENERAL GRANT. 

was determined to plant his flag. Sending a force around 
to the right, to make a feint, he took three picked regi' 
ments — the Second and Seventh Iowa, and Fifty-seventh 
Indiana — to compose the storming column, and, i iding at 
their head, ordered the advance. As his eye glanced 
along that splendid body of men, he felt they were equal 
to the bloody task assigned them. The bayonet was to 
do the work this time. It was to be swift success, or utter 
destruction. ]\iounting the slope with leaning forms, 
those brave troops entered the desolating fire, that rolled 
like a lava-flood adown the height, and pressed rapidly 
upward and onward. Their gallant leader moved beside 
them, with his cap lifted on his sword, as a banner to wave 
them on. Grim and silent, with compressed lips and flash- 
ing eyes, they breasted the steep acclivity and the blind- 
ing, fiery sleet, without faltering for one instant. They 
sternly closed the rent ranks as they ascended, until at 
last the summit was gained. Then the long line of gleam- 
ing barrels came to a level together ; a simultaneous flash, 
a crashing volley, a cheer, ringing high and clear fi:*om 
the smoking top, a single bound, and they were over and 
in the rebel works. The flag Avent up, and with it a shout 
of victory that was the death-knell of Fort Donelson. 
Hurr3.ing up his ai'tillerj^ and supports. Smith fixed him- 
self firmly in position, and awaited the morning light to 
complete the work already more than half done. 

That nio'ht the rebel Generals held a council of war, 
which ended in Floyd's turning over the command of the 
fort to Pillow, and he again transferring it to Buckner. 
This being done, the two former, with a portion of the 
Virginia brigade, stole secretly on board some steamers, 
and escaped to Nashville. 

In the morning, when the roll of the drum and the bugle- 



THE SURRENDER. 45 

note awakened the Federal army, a white flag was seen 
waving from Fort Donelson. Soon an officer appeared, 
bearing proposals from Buckner for an armistice of twelve 
hours, and that connnissioners might be appointed to 
arrange terms of capitulation. Grant replied that no 
terms were to be entertained ; he demanded unconditional 
surrender, and that immediately, or he should move at 
once on his works. Buckner replied, that, ungenerous 
and unchivalric as this was, he must submit to it; and the 
Fort was surrendered, with its garrison of thirteen thou- 
sand men, some sixty cannon, commissary stores, &c. 
The number of the captured was swelled by two regi- 
ments of Tennesseans who next day entered the Fort, 
ignorant of its fall. 

This was the first great victory of the war, and electri- 
fied the nation more than any after success. On the 
other hand, it was received by the South with the deepest 
mortification and rage. The Fort surrendered on Sab- 
bath morning, and the people of Nashville were crowding 
to church, elate with confidence, caused by a despatch 
received the night before, from Pillow, stating that our 
army was beaten. When the stunning news ran througli 
the streets of the city that the Fort had fallen, the gentle 
clamor of bells calling to prayer was changed to the loud 
clang of alarm, and soon every vehicle was engaged to 
carry away the alarmed inhabitants that surged in sway- 
ing crowds through the streets. 

The rebel loss in the engagement was only some twelve 
hundred, while ours was about double — we being com- 
pelled to assail the enemy behind his breastworks. Grant 
at once became the idol of the West, and the Illinois troops 
won a reputation that they maintained untarnished to the 
close of the war. 



46 LIEUTENANT-GENERAL GRANT, 

Still, adverse fortune seemed to follow Grant. With 
the tidings of victory, there went to Washington an in- 
famous charge against him, and an order was telegraphed 
back, ordering him under arrest. Thus, just as the nation 
was ready to make him its idol, his career seemed about 
to close. But fortunately the charge was pronounced a 
slander, and Lincoln would not listen to the pressing de- 
mands on every side for his removal, but stood as ever 
his firm friend. 

Grant's district was now enlarged, and called that of 
West Tennessee, the Tennessee river forming its southern 
boundary. He was also made Major-General of Volun- 
teers. 

His first great campaign being ended, he, as sjDring 
opened, prepared for another, under the direction of Hal- 
leck. Having changed his headquarters to Fort Henry, 
he was directed to ascend the Tennessee to Pittsburg 
Landing, while Buell advanced across the country from 
Nashville to the same point. When the junction should 
be formed, the combined army was to move on Corinth, 
where the rebel army under Johnston and Beauregard 
lay strongly intrenched. Situated at the junction of the 
Memphis and Charleston and Mobile and Ohio railroads, 
it was a place of great importance. 

Grant's array was landed on the west bank of the 
Tennessee, and thrown out several miles in the direction 
of Corinth, and encamped to wait for Buell, who was 
pushing his way across the country. Beauregard, aware 
of the Federal plan, resolved to fall on Grant before 
Buell reached him, and drive him into the Tennessee. 
In accordance with this plan, Johnston set out from 
Corinth, twenty miles distant, on the 4th of April, intend- 
ing to attack Grant on Saturday, next day ; but pouring 



BATTLE OF SHILOH. 47 

rains had made the roads so heavy that he was unable to 
Jo so until Sunday morning. 

The three divisions of Sherman, Prentiss, and McCler- 
nand, were the farthest advanced on the roads toward 
Corinth, where they had lain in camp for nearly three 
weeks ; yet, strange to say, no breastworks were thrown 
up, or lines of abattis made, behind which the troops, 
many of whom were entirely raw, especially the division 
of Sherman, could make a stand. So when, at day-dawn 
on Sunday morning, the rebel batteries opened, and their 
heavy lines came down on our camps, they swept them 
like an inundation. Some of the soldiers were preparing 
their breakfast, when the pickets came dashing in, crying 
that the rebels were upon them. A scene of indescribable 
confusion followed. From the very outset, the battle on 
our part was without plan or cohesion, while the rebel 
General held his army completely in hand, and hurled it 
Avith skill, boldness, and irresistible power, on any point 
he wished to strike. Prentiss in the centre, after striving 
in vain to bear up against the flood, was surrounded and 
compelled to surrender, with some three thousand oi 
more of his troops. Sherman and McClernand fought 
with their accustomed bravery, but they could hold only 
a portion of their troops to the deadly work. Stuart was 
cut oif from the main army, and compelled to fight his 
own battle. Cavalry charged hither and thither over the 
tumultuous field, riding down our disordered troops ; our 
batteries were swept by the hostile flood, and the broken, 
disjointed army borne steadily back toward the Tennessee. 
Sherman, awake to the peril of the army, clung to each 
position with the tenacity of death, and rode amid the 
hail-storm of bullets as though he had forgotten he had a 
life to lose. McClernand closed sternly in with him, and 



48 LIEUTENANT-GENERAL GRANT 

a portion of their devoted troops breasted nobly the deso* 
lating fire that swept the field ; but it was all in vain to 
attempt to stem the refluent tide of battle, Hurlbut, too, 
moved bravely into the chaos, and gave Sherman breath- 
ing time. Grant, who was at Savannah, several miles 
down the river, did not reach the battle-field till ten 
o'clock, When he did arrive, his presence failed to arrest 
the disaster. The bleeding, shattered, but still bravely 
fighting army, swung heavily back toward the Tennes- 
see river, which, when once reached, would be its tomb. 
As the sun of that spring Sabbath stooped to the western 
horizon, he looked on a field trampled, torn, and crimson- 
ed, and apparently lost to the Union cause. The rebel 
leader had fallen, and Beauregard had assumed com- 
mand, and promised that his steed should ere night drink 
of the waters of the Tennessee. But as darkness fell over 
the field, he ceased his persistent attacks, and lay down 
to wait for the morning to complete the work apparently 
almost done. Of Grant's army of over forty thousand 
men, four thousand were prisoners in the hands of the 
enemy, six thousand were killed or wounded, while nearly 
a third of the entire host that had moved to battle in the 
morning, were skulking under the banks or scattered in 
disorder where they could not be brought into action. 
Half of the artillery was captured, and the scarce twenty 
thousand men that still kept their ranks, stood within 
sight of the rushing waters of the Tennessee. It was a 
sad, lost field ; but fortunately Buell was near. The heads 
of his eager columns, that had pushed on all day, urged 
by the heavy, incessant explosions that rolled over the 
forests in front, telling them that their comrades were in 
peril, appeared on the op[)Osite side of the river. " Buel] 
has come," rung in thrilling shouts over the field. Grant 



NIGHT AFTER THE BATTLE. 49 

had already seen him, and now felt that the lost day 
might be retrieved ; and riding up to the bleeding, lion- 
hearted Sherman, told him to be ready in the morning to 
assume the offensive. 

That was a sad night to the army. The dead and 
wounded lay everywhere, the latter moaning for water, 
or gasping out their lives on the torn and trampled field, 
while ever and anon a heavy explosion from the gunboats 
Tyler and Lexington, that at the close of the day had 
helped with their ponderous shells to keep back the right 
wing of the rebel army, that was bearing our shattered 
left to swift destruction, broke through the gloom. At 
midnight a heavy thunder-storm burst along the river, 
adding deeper solemnity to the scene, and drenching with 
grateful rain-drops the feverish, thirsty thousands, to whom 
no other help than this gift of Heaven came, that long, 
dreary night. Thanks to Buell, light rose above its 
darkness to Grant. But for him, his rising fame would 
have tliere closed with that of other equally brave gen 
erals, whom disaster had laid asitle for the war. 

In the morning, Buell formed his line of battle near 
the shore, and Sherman gathered up his shattered ranks 
ready to strike once more the ponderous blows he knew 
so well how to give. McCook, and Nelson, and Crittenden 
were there with their brave divisions, whose serried front 
and long, swinging tread and steady movements, gave 
assurance of victory. Sherman, whose brave heart had 
been sore vexed at the unwieldiness of his green troops, 
looked atthem^ith pride. The latter, fie said, "knew 
not the value of combination and organization When 
individual fear seized them, the first impulse was to ^ei 
away." 

In the morning, he " stood patiently awaiting the 



50 LIEUTENANT-GENERAL GRANT. 

sound of Buell's advance upon the main Corinth road." 
At length his thunder spoke, and as the deep reverbera- 
tions steadily approached, he gave the word " Forward.*" 
The drums rolled out, and soon he came, when he said, 
" I saw for the first time the well-ordered and compact 
Kentucky forces of General Buell, whose soldierly move- 
ment at once gave confidence to our newer and less disci- 
plined forces." His quick military eye saw at a glance 
that dififerent soldiers were in the field, and that not mere 
"pluck," but discipline, was to settle the fortunes of the 
day. Buell's line of battle, with scarcely a check, steadily 
swept the field, bearing the enemy back over our camps, 
carried with such resistless fury the day before, and re- 
covering our lost artillery. Sherman also forced his shat- 
tered batallions forward, and the bloody field of Shiloh was ' 
won. But, about a third of Grant's army had disappear, 
ed. Many stragglers, however, afterward came in. Sher- 
man lost two thousand out of his single division ; McCler- 
nand about a third of his; Hurlbut two thousand, and 
McArthur half as many. Ilad the battle been lost, the 
rebels would have swept the country up to the Ohio. 
Even the victory could not shield Grant from general 
condemnation, and a great effort was made to induce the 
President to remove him from command. Several of the 
Governors of the Western States waited on Halleck, and 
urged his removal, declaring that he was not only incapa- 
ble, but too intemperate to be trusted with an army 
The more moderate satisfied themselves with the complaint 
tliat he had committed a gross blunder in placing liis army 
on the west bank of the river, without furnishing any means 
for its retreat in case of disaster. There was no reason for 
exposing it to an attack until Buelfs army should arrive, 
because no battle was desired until the forces could form 



SHERMANS LETTER. 51 

a junction. There has been no satisfactory explanation 
given for this disposition of the army, and doubtless for 
the simple reason that none can be given. His retention 
in command was doubtless owing more to the zealous 
advocacy of Mr. Washburne, member of Congress from 
Illinois, than from any other cause. The fault of the 
surprise rested, of course, as he insisted, on the division 
commanders in front, instead of him, as well as the neg- 
lect to throw up field-works for self-protection. Sher- 
man has lately endeavored, in a long letter, to defend 
Grant from the public charges made against him ; and 
although the efibrt does credit to his heart, it cannot 
stand scrutiny for a moment. He says the fault of land- 
ing the army, if it was one, on the west side of the river, 
must be laid to General Smith, who placed it there. This 
would do, if a battle had followed immediately on the 
landing of the army ; but he knows, as well as any one, 
that in allowing it to stay there three weeks, Grant 
assumed the whole responsibility of the act. In fact, it 
became his. It seems to have dawned on his mind, that 
others might see it in this light, and so he endeavors to 
defend the act itself. If he had simply asserted it, we 
might have deferred to his superior military judgment, 
and acquiesced, though we failed to see the grounds on 
which it was based. But when he goes on to give the 
reasons for his views, we have the right to test them by 
common sense. In the first place, he says that the battle 
was not lost on the first day, for he received orders to 
assume the offensive the next morning, before he knew 
that Buell had arrived. But Grant knew he was at 
hand, so that the statement amounts to nothing. The 
intention seems to be to imply that Grant, without refer- 
ence to Buell's arrival, had determined to assume the 



52 LIEUTENANT-GENERAL GRANT. 

offensive; but this was impossible, for Buell had seen 
Grant in the afternoon, and told him of the near approach 
of his forces. There seems a lack here of Sherman's usual 
straight-forward, open way of stating things. He says, 
"I repeat, I received such orders before I knew Gen- 
eral Buelfs troops were at the river." But his knowl- 
edge had nothing to do with the orders ; the whole ques- 
tion turns on whether Grant gave the order before lie 
knew of Buelfs arrival. This he neglects to state. But 
even if it were so, we do not see how it helps the matter 
much; it shows pluck, but we cannot admit that it 
promised success. With half of his army gone, or 
broken into irrecoverable fragments — half his artillery 
captured — with an army more than double that of his own, 
flushed with victory, hanging along his front, " to drop the 
defensive " which all day long had not been maintained at 
any given point for only a short interval, and now weak- 
ened in men, guns, and morale^ " to assume the offensive" 
would doubtless have been very " plucky," but we fear 
that the impartial student of the battle-field will conclude 
that would have been the sum-total of the attempt. Again, 
he says, " there was no mistake " " in putting that army 
on the west side of the Tennessee ;" and proceeds to give 
the following reason for his opinion, which will strike one 
as more surprising, if possible, than the act itself He 
says : "It was necessary that a combat, fierce and bitter, 
to test the manhood of the two armies, should come off, 
and that was as good a place as any. It was not, then, a 
question of military skill and strategy, but of courage 
and pluck," etc. If this means anything, it asserts tha 
Grant's army was placed where it was overwhelmed the 
first day, solely to fight a square, stand-up battle, " to 
test the comparative pluck and endurance of the rebel and 



NO STRATEGY. 53 

Union soldiers. There was no strategy in the case." (3ne 
may well ask in amazement, then, what Buell was sent 
across the country from Nashville for, to form a junction 
with them ? Besides, if there was no " strategy " in the 
case, both Halleck and Buell have grievously misled the 
public, for they assert that a plan of campaign had been 
laid out, the main features of which were that the two 
armies should form a junction before active operations 
commenced ; Halleck was then to assume command, and 
Corinth was to be the first objective point of the grand 
" Army of Invasion." Their statements do not tally well 
with the assertion that all that was wanted was a pugi- 
listic fight between two armies — a simple gladiatorial 
contest. But this is not the worst of it: the assertion 
proves too much, or rather, proves what is not true ; for 
it was not a fair test of the soldierly qualities of the two 
armies ; it was not a fair pitched battle. One army 
was taken unawares and thrown into confusion before 
the battle had fairly commenced ; and hence a struggle 
under such adverse circumstances, could in no way be 
considered a fair "test of the manhood" of at least our 
army. In the second place, Sherman, in his despatch, 
says : " My division was made up of regiments perfectly 
new, all having received their muskets, for the first time, 
at Paducah. None of them had ever been under fire, or 
beheld heavy columns of the enem}- bearing down on 
them. To expect of them the coolness and steadiness of 
older troops would be wrong." But why would it be 
wrong to expect this'? Simply because it was not a 
"/car test of the manhood " of such troops to put them 
against such disciplined forces as the rebels proved to be 
— least of all, when a battle was sprung upon them, and 
before they could avail themselves of the little knowledge 



54 LIEUTENANT-GENERAL GRANT. 

they had of "organization and combination." In the 
last place, if the battle was a "fair test of the manhood" 
of the opposing troops, it proved what no one believes to 
be true, viz., the superiority of the Southern soldier; for 
we were terribly beaten all day — driven from point to 
point, till, at nightfall, nearly half the army had dis- 
appeared. We therefore assert that it was never de- 
signed that a battle should be fought there to " test the 
manhood of the two armies " — that in the very nature of 
the circumstances it could have been no test — that the 
result of that first day's battle, compared with our after- 
experience, shows that it was no test. We fear that even 
the sanction of so great a name as Sherman's, will not 
save the bad logic of his argument. He says, in his 
letter, that, from the extraordinary accounts which his- 
torians have given of that battle, he begins to doubt 
whether he himself was there at all ; but we venture to 
say that, among all those accounts, not one has conveyed 
so erroneous an impression respecting the propriety of 
the plan, the purpose, and the actual result of the first 
day's battle, as that letter has done, ^vritten ostensibly for 
the correction, but which actually is a perversion, of 
history. That it should not have been brought on in the 
way and time it was, will be the verdict of history, in 
spite of all special pleading on the j^art of commanders or 
subordinates who had anything to do with it. If there 
is one maxim in military science that is irrefutable, it is, 
that it is wrong to expose an army to be cut up in detail 
by the concentrated forces of an enemy. And this is just 
what was done by placing the army on the west bank of 
the Tennessee, within twenty miles of Corinth, while 
Buell was still pushing across the country from Nash- 
ville, subject to all the delays that might arise from the 



HALLECK ASSUMES COMMAND. 55 

weather or the enemy. Up to this j^oint, Grant had not 
made a movement, or fought a battle, that had not 
brought down on his head more or less abuse or criti- 
cism. But here, adverse fate seemed to give up the 
struggle against him, and Fortune adopted him as her 
favorite son. The clamors that had followed on his track, 
and travelled back from his camps to Washington, began 
to die away, until at last they were changed to peans of 
praise, that deepened with every revolving month, till 
the land was filled with the sound of his name. From 
that day his star has steadily climbed the heavens, until 
it now stands in all its bright effulgence at the zenith, 
shedding its tranquil light on the grateful nation. He 
could now ask no greater favor of his friends than that they 
should stop trying to prove that he was just as wise at the 
beginning as at the end of his career. Halleck shortly 
after assumed command in person of the forces in the 
field, under the name of the Army of Tennessee, and laid 
regular siege to Corinth, in which Grant commanded the 
right wing. The slow movements of the Commander-in- 
Chief were not in accordance with his ideas of the manner 
in which a campaign should be conducted. It is said, on 
good authority, that Grant lost his temper, for the first 
time, when urging Halleck to advance against Corinth, 
saying that if he did not, the rebel army, with all its 
material, would escape. His language to the cautious 
Commander-in-Chief was stronger than his subordinate 
position would justify, and he expected to be brought to 
account for it. Whether such an intention was ever 
entertained or not, the final escape of the rebel army, 
with all its guns, stores, &c., effectually quieted all desire 
to provoke an investigation. 

In July, Halleck was made General-in-Chief of all 

5 



56 LIEUTENAJ^T-GENERAL GRANT. 

the forces of the Union, and called to Washington, when 
the Department of West Tennessee was created, and 
Grant placed in command of it. He had a good deal of 
trouble with the disloyal people of Memphis, who held 
constant communication with the rebel forces, and carried 
on quite a traffic with them. He therefore issued an 
order, expelling all disloyal families who had given aid or 
information to the South, or who refused to sign a parole 
that they would not do so in future. He also issued an 
order, declaring that independent guerillas would not, 
when captured, receive the treatment due to prisoners of 
war. He next suspended the " Memphis Avalanche," a 
rebel paper. The various orders, etc., in regard to these 
matters, will be found in the Appendix. 

During the summer, while Buell was trying to reach 
Chattanooga, Grant's army lay comjmratively quiet, pro- 
tecting the railroad south from Columbus, by which 
supplies were forwarded. 

In September, hearing that Van Dorn and Price had 
advanced on luka, he took one portion of his forces, as- 
signing Kosecrans to the command of the other, and by 
different routes moved on the place. E-osecrans arrived 
at the appointed time, and fought and defeated the whole 
rebel force. The rebel leaders, however, instead of being 
disheartened by this defeat, set on foot a still more for- 
midable movement — one designed to cut the communica- 
tions north of Corinth, and stop our supplies. Rosecrans, 
the moment he discovered it, hastily called in all the 
troops within reach, and gave battle behind his intrench- 
ments. The rebels assaulted the place in the most deter- 
mined manner, and came very near carrying it ; but were 
finally defeated with terrible slaughter. 

The Mississippi having been opened to Vicksburg, 



GRANT AND THE TRADERS. 57 

and Buell removed, Rosecrans was now put over the 
army of the Cumberland, with headquarters at Nash- 
ville, preparatory to moving on Bragg, who had retired 
to Murfreesboro after his invasion of Tennessee. Grant, in 
the meantime, turned his attention to Vicksburg. Re- 
organizing his forces during the autumn, he, in the mean- 
time, between cotton speculators, disloyal inhabitants 
within his lines, pilfering, etc., was exceedingly annoyed. 
Wishing to be conciliatory, and soften as much as he 
could the asperities of war, and relieve non-combatants 
of its oppressive burdens, he granted privileges, and modi- 
iied the strict rules that he had laid down as much as 
possible. His kindness, however, was not ajDpreciated, 
and his leniency abused, so that he was now and then 
compelled to show the iron hand. The hangers-on of the 
army, whose sole object was to make money, reckless of 
the means used, awakened his indignation. The tricky, 
unscrupulous Jews especially aroused his anger, and he 
issued an order, in December, expelling every individual 
of them from his Department, in twenty-four hours after 
the reception of the orders by the post-commanders. If 
any returned, they were to be seized as prisoners ; and to 
make the riddance final and complete, he closed the order 
with the following prohibition : 

" No passes will he given these people to visit head- 
quarters^ for the jyuTpose of making personal applicatioji 
for trade-permits.''' He thus shut the door completely 
in their faces. 

In December, everything being ready, he commenced 
his movement against Vicksburg. Sherman, at the head 
of the Fifteenth Army Corps, was to proceed do^vn the 
river from Memphis, and attempt to carry the place by 
assault, while he should follow on by rail, and bear- 



58 LIEUTENANT-GENERAL GRANT. 

ing to the left, move on Jackson, east of it, holding 
and engaging the rebel force there. But Sherman's 
large flotilla had scarcely pushed from shore, when Holly 
Springs was disgracefully surrendered, and the supplies 
on which the expedition partly depended, captured. This 
unexpected disaster compelled Grant to halt, and Sher- 
man was left unsupported. The rebels, advised of his 
approach, and Jackson not being threatened by Grant, 
were able to bring over by rail, from the latter place, all 
the troops necessary to defend Vicksburg. Sherman, 
ignorant of all this, proceeded to carry out his part of the 
programme, and desperately assaulted the rebel works. 
Hurled back, he was compelled to abandon the attempt, 
and reembarked his troops. Grant now adopted another 
plan for the capture of the place. From the knowledge 
gained of the strength of the works on the north side 
through Sherman's failure, he was convinced that opera- 
tions, to be successful, must be conducted against it from 
the south side. Concentrating his forces, therefore, he 
in February established them at Young s Point, prepai'a- 
tory to a move down the river. 



CHAPTER IIL 

VICKSBURG. 

OANAl, AKOUND IT — ABANDONED — LAKE PROVIDENCE ROUTE — MOON-LAKK 
ROUTE — THIS ALSO ABANDONED — THE STEEL's BAYOU ROUTE — DESCRIP- 
TION OP EXPEDITION THROUGH — A FAILURE — GRANT RESOLVES 
TO RUN THE BATTERIES WITH GUNBOATS AND TRANSPORTS — THE 
NIGHT-PASSAGE — MARCH OP TROOPS AROUND VICKSBURG INLAND — 
NEW CARTHAGE— HARD TIMES— GRAND GULF — ITS BATTERIES RUN — 
PORT GIBSON REACHED — STRIPS FOR THE RACE — BATTLE — GRAND 
GULP EVACUATED — BOLD DETERMINATION OF GRANT — BATTLE AT RAY- 
MOND — MARCH ON JACKSON — VICTORY AT — THE ARMY WHEELS ABOUT 
AND MARCHES ON VICKSBURG — BATTLE OF CHAMPION'S HILL — BATTLE 
AT BIG BLACK RIVER — VICKSBURG INVESTED — FIRST ASSAULT — SECOND 
GRAND ASSAULT — REASON OF — THE LONG SIEGE — THE SURRENDER. 

ViCKSBURG stands on a high, narrow tongue of land, 
made by an immense bend in the Mississippi. Hence, back 
of it, the upper and lower portions of the river are close 
together, though by the long sweep around the city they 
are several miles apart. Across this neck Engineer 
Williams some time before had cut a canal, hoping to 
turn enough water into it to float vessels through, and 
thus avoid the necessity of attacking the place at all. 
This had, however, been abandoned, and Grant now 
endeavored to re-open and enlarge it. But the giving 
way of one of the dams, the overflow of the land, and 
the obstinate adherence of the Mississippi to its old 
channel, caused the enterprise to be abandoned. Grant 



60 LIEUTENANT-GENEEAL GRANT. 

now attempted to get in the rear of the place by inlai d 
navigation of another kind. About seventy miles above 
Vicksburg, and only five or six miles from the river on 
the west side, lies Lake Providence, a large sheet of water. 
Below it, and connected with it by a bayou, lies Swan 
Lake. This bayou runs through a forest, and is filled 
^vith snags. Swan Lake is some thirty miles long, and 
instead of finding an outlet for its Avaters directly across 
the country into the Mississippi, flows directly south in a 
stream called Tensas River, which, running inland, 
passes Vicksburg, and finally joins the Black River, 
and through it reaches the Red River, and thus at 
length the Mississippi below Natchez, and lience below 
Vicksburg. To attempt to get boats through this long, 
crooked inland route, was a stupendous undertaking; 
yet it was not deemed impossible that the Mississippi 
itself might be made to pour its mighty flood through 
it, and thus leave Vicksburg an inland town, with 
its formidable batteries commanding only the muddy 
bed of the stream. A canal, therefore, into Lake 
Providence was cut, and a few barges floated successfully 
through .t. But the river kept on its old course, and 
wdth the subsidence of the spring freshets, the new 
channel, which had promised so much, became a shallow 
water-course. Time and labor had been thrown away, and 
Grant was compelled to resort to some other method of 
gettino; in rear of Vicksburo;. He now tried the other 
side of the river. Nearly two hundred miles by the 
river, above Vicksburg, there is a lake on the east side, 
and, like Lake Providence on the west side, lies near the 
bank. This is called Moon Lake, the waters of which, 
bearing different names as they flow south, at length 
empty into the Yazoo. If this latter stream could be once 



LAST INLAND ATTEMPT. 61 

reached, it would be open sailing to the rear of Haines 
Bluff, which thus being turned, the rear of Vicksburg 
could be reached. A canal was, therefore, cut from the 
Mississippi into Moon Lake. The water at once poured 
through it of a sufficient depth to admit the steamboats, 
and the perilous undertaking was successfully com- 
menced. Now winding slowly along- the narrow and 
crooked channel — now backing water to keep the boats 
from plunging into the bank, and now creeping under- 
neath overhanging trees, and through dark swamps, where 
solitude reigned supreme, the expedition kept on its toil- 
some way, until the Yazoo was at length reached. But 
just at the moment when success seemed sure, and only 
a swift sail remained down the Yazoo, they came upon 
a fort erected in a commanding position, and so sur- 
rounded by bogs that a land-force could not approach it. 
Against the heavy guns mounted here the frail wooden 
boats could present no defence, and hence, after a short 
action, retired ; and so nothing was left but to creep dis- 
appointed and weary back, the long, tedious route to the 
Mississippi. 

What now can be done? was the next inquiry. Grant 
had no more idea of abandoning the expedition than 
when he first set out. A fourth plan was, therefore, 
adopted. Behind Haines' Bluff he must get, any way. 
The batteries here commanded the Yazoo River, and the 
fleet had tried in vain to silence them Another circuit- 
ous water-route remained, which led into the Yazoo, 
above this bluff, and yet below where Fort Pemberton, 
which had stopped the boats of the last expedition, stood. 
By a reference to the map, this will be seen to be a most 
extraordinary route. The expedition was to move inland, 
first north, and then south, making an immense oval. 



62 LIEUTENANT-GENERAL GRANT. 

Leaving the Yazoo below Haines' Bluff, it entered Steel's 
bayou, designing to keep north to the Rolling Fork, 
and through it turn back, and striking the Sunflower 
River, come down into the Yazoo just above Haines" 
Bluff, and not many miles fi'om where it original^ 
set out. Such labyrinthian navigation, we venture to 
say, was never before attempted by war- vessels. Pass- 
ing for thirty miles up Steel's bayou, the boats came to 
Black bayou, in which trees had to be cut down and 
torn out, and the vessels "hove around" the bends, 
which were too short to be turned by the rudder. Now 
butting the Iron-clads against trees, and toppling them 
over, and now tearing them up by the roots, the fifteen 
vessels in all worked their difficult way on. Although the 
bayou was only four miles long, it took twenty-four 
hours to get through it, thus averaging about five rods 
an hour. They then entered Deer Creek, where Sherman 
arrived with a small portion of his command, to cooperate 
with the boats. Up this stream to Boiling Fork was thirty- 
two miles by water, while by the land-route, that Sher- 
man was to take, it was but twelve miles. 

Up this narrow channel, filled with small willows, 
through which the boats with difficulty forced their way, 
Porter kept slowly on, filling the inhabitants with almost 
as much astonishment as though he were sailing across 
the solid land. The movement was a complete surprise, 
and Porter, hoping to outsj^eed the announcement of his 
coming, pushed on as rapidly as possible ; but with his 
utmost efforts he could make barely half a mile an hour. 
At length he got within seven miles of the Boiling Fork, 
from which point it would be plain sailing. But his pro- 
gress had been so slow that the rebels had penetrated his 
plans, and now began to line the banks with gangs of 




CHE LAST INLAND ROUTE OF GEN. GRANT TO REACH THE REAR OF VICKSBURa 



RUNNING THE BATTERIES. 65 

negroes, felling trees across the narrow stream, to obstruct 
his passage. To chop and saw these in two and haul 
them out, required the most unremitting labor. He, 
however, pushed on till he got within half a mile of the 
Rolling Fork, when he found the enemy closing on him 
with seven pieces of artilleiy. In the meantime, the rapid 
strokes of the axe and the sound of falling trees were heard 
in his rear, showing that the enemy was attempting to 
block him up here, and finish him at leisure. He at once 
became anxious for his boats, and Sherman not havinor 
arrived as he expected, he determined to wheel about and 
make his way back while he could. In the meantime, 
sharp-shooters were lining the banks, and the crack of the 
rifle mingled in with the roar of artillery and crash of 
falling trees. He, however, succeeded in forcing his way 
back, until at length he met Sherman's force. At first, 
he thought of retracing his steps ; but the men, who had 
now for six days and nights been kept constantly at work, 
were worn down, while the enemy were gathering in heavy 
force in front, and he concluded to abandon the expedition 
altogether. 

When the boats, finally returned, and reported this last 
project also a failure. Grant saw that it was in vain to at- 
tempt longer to get to the rear of Vicksburg by an inland 
route. The broad Mississippi, sweeping under the enemy's 
batteries, was the only course now left him. Long weeks 
of toil had passed and nothing been accomplished, and 
now, by a less resolute, persevering man than Grant, the 
task might have been abandoned as hopeless ; but he, 
having made up his mind to take Vicksburg, determined 
to see no impossibilities in the way of doing it. 

The gunboats had shown that they could pass the bat- 
teries with comparative impunity, and he resolved to try 



66 LIEUTENANT-GENERAL GRANT. 

the experiment of getting transports past also, while he 
marched his army inland down the river to meet them. 
He had to wait, however, till the spring freshets subsided, 
for the country between Milliken's Bend and New Car- 
thage, below Vicksburg, on the west side of the river — the 
only route the army could take — was flooded with water. 
Toward the close of April it was deemed practicable for 
the arm}^ to move ; but before it started, the question 
must be decided, whether transports could be got past 
the eight miles of batteries that lined the shore above 
and below Vicksburg. It was resolved to test this matter 
at night, and the plan adopted was, to have the gunboats 
move down and engage the batteries, whilst the trans- 
ports, under cover of the smoke and darkness, should slip 
quickly by, near the western shore. It was a desjDerate 
enterprise, to which men could not legitimately be or- 
dered, and volunteers were called for. So many offered 
that the necessary number had finally to be drawn by 
lot. Grant resolved to try the experiment first with 
three transports. 

A little before midnight, the gunboats moved from 
their moorings and dropped silently down the river, fol- 
lowed meekly by the transports. It was a night of intense 
anxiety to Grant, for if this plan failed, even his fertile re- 
sources could see no way of getting to the rear of Vicks- 
burg. An hour had not elapsed after the boats disap- 
peared in the darkness, before the thunder of artillery 
shook the shore, followed soon after by the light of a con- 
flagration, kindled by the rebels, to light up the bosom of 
the Mississippi. Under its blaze the poor transports lay 
revealed as distinctly as though the noon-day sun was 
shining, and at once became the target of rebel batteries. 
They, however, steamed on through the raining shells for 



THE ARMY BELOW VICKSBURG. 0/ 

eight miles, and two of them succeeded in getting safely 
through. The Henry Clay was set on fire, and floated a 
burning wreck down the river. If he could save this 
proportion of transports. Grant was satisfied, and so 
sent down next night six more, towing twelve coal 
barges. Five of them and half the barges got through, 
though some of them were more or less damaged. It 
was a great success ; but now the army was to move 
down to meet them, through the most execrable country 
troops were ever called to march over. McClernand's 
corps, forming the advance, commenced the march ; but the 
comitry was soon found to be impassable, except by 
building corduroy roads. This required immense labor, 
while twenty miles of levee had to be guarded, lest the 
enemy should cut it and let the waters of the Mississippi 
over the country. All obstacles, however, were at length 
overcome, and New Carthage, the point where the trans- 
ports were to be met, arose in sight ; but alas, it was 
an island ! The rebels, divining Grant's purpose, had cut 
the levee above it, and the Mississippi was flowing around 
it in a broad stream that could not be crossed for want 
of boats. In this dilemma the only course left open was 
to keep on down the river, nearly fifty miles, to Hard 
Times, building bridges and constructing roads as they 
marched. This place at length was reached, where the 
transports were awaiting them to carry them across to 
Grand Gulf, the spot selected by Grant from w^hich to 
commence his march on Vicksburg. But here, again, 
the rebels had anticipated him, and formidable batteries 
frowned from the place. The gunboats advanced boldly 
against them, and a fierce engagement followed ; but the 
utmost efi'orts of Porter could not silence them, and the 
fleet had to withdraw. Here was another dilemma, and 



68 LIEUTENANT-GENERAL GRANT 

the expedition seemed brought to a halt. Grant, seeing 
himself effectually stopped, disembarked his troops, which 
had already been put on board the transports, and started 
them once more throuo;h the forest down the river, to a 
point below, called Bruinsburg ; and directed the gunboats 
to run the batteries of Grand Gulf as they had those 
of Vicksburg. This was successfully done, and next to 
the last day of April the army was transported across to 
the eastern shore. Grant being the first man to set foot on 
land. That very afternoon McClernand's corps was 
started off toward Port Gibson, lying to the southeast 
of Grand Gulf. He did not even wait for the army- 
wagons to be brought across the river, but with three 
days' rations moved off at once. Grand Gulf, which he 
designed to make his base of svipplies, must be taken be- 
fore the enemy at Vicksburg, informed of his intentions, 
could reinforce the place. He saw that it must be swift 
marchmg, quick fighting, sudden and constant victories, 
or the storm Avould gather so heavih' about him that his ad- 
vance would be stopped. Hence he ordered as little bag- 
gage to be taken as possible, and set the example of re- 
trenchment himself. Washbiu'iie, member of Congress 
from Illinois, his ever fast friend, accompanied the ex- 
pedition, and says that Grant took with him " neither 
a horse, nor an orderly, nor a camp-chest, nor an over- 
coat, nor a blanket, nor even a clean shirt. His entire 
baggage for six days was a tooth-brush. He fared like 
the commonest soldier in his command, partaking of 
his rations and sleeping upon the ground, with no covering 
but the canopy of heaven." This shows not only how 
terribly in earnest Grant at this point was, but also how' 
thoroughly he comprehended the peril of his situation. 
McClernand's corps had started at three o'clock in 



GRAND GULF EVACUATED. 69 

the afternoon, and kept up its march till two o'clock in 
the morning, when it was suddenly brought to a halt by 
a battery in its path. At daybreak this was recon- 
noitred. No time could ^be wasted, and the battery, 
which occupied an eminence, protected by a heavy force 
which had been sent do^vn from Grand Gulf, was at- 
tacked on both flanks at once. Severe fighting followed, 
which lasted most of the day, and for a time it looked as 
if Grant would be stopped right here. But he pressed 
the enemy so fiercely, that, as soon as night came on, the 
latter retreated, leaving five cannon and a thousand prison- 
ers in our hands. Our loss was nearl}' eight hundred. 
Grant wrote his despatch respecting the battle by moon- 
light. The columns now pushed on to Port Gibson, which 
so uncovered Grand Gulf that it was hastily evacuated 
Grant rode across the country fifteen miles to visit it, 
and establish his base of supplies before advancing 
against Vicksburg. He designed to halt here until he 
could gather in all his forces and supplies, and fix everj^. 
thing on a firm footing before pushing into the interior. 
But here another disappointment met him, apparently 
more serious than any which had yet befallen him. He 
had expected Banks, with his army, to join him, when 
he would be strong enough to meet the combined forces 
of the enemy, and move cautiously to the investment of 
Vicksburg. But this commander refused to comply 
with his request, saying that he had work of his own on 
hand It was a serious question now what course pru- 
dence would dictate. Troops, he knew, were moving 
from the east toward Vicksburg, under Johnston, and the 
rebel leader could, in a short time, concentrate an over- 
whelming force against him. To guard against this aa 
much as possible, he had left Sherman s corps behind, 



70 LIEUTENANT-GENERAL GRANT. 

at Milliken's Bend, to make a demonstration against 
Haines' Bluff, so that the enemy would not send off 
troops south to op^^ose him. The ruse succeeded ; the 
enemy were deceived and kept at that ]3oint, when Sher- 
man sailed back to Milliken s ^end, and following in the 
track of the army, joined it at Grand Gulf. 

Grant now took a rapid, comprehensive survey of his 
position, and saw plainly that but two courses lay open 
to him — either to join Banks, who would not join him, 
and help to take Port Hudson, which he undoubtedly 
would have been ordered to do, could the War Depart- 
ment have communicated with him, or, cutting loose 
from everything, take his gallant army, in hand, and 
boldly pushing inland, like the First Napoleon in his 
famous Italian campaign, endeavor to strike the enemy, 
in detail, before he could concentrate his forces. He did 
not hesitate for a moment, but chose the latter course, 
perilous as it was. He knew he must have victories, 
successive, rapid, and constant, or he was lost. In this 
decision, and the way he carried it out, he showed that 
he was capable of the inspiration of true genius, which 
commonly belongs to those of a more imaginative, im- 
petuous temperament. 

The rebel General Bowen, when he evacuated Grand 
Gulf, retreated across the Big Black river, directly to 
Vicksburg, and joined Pemberton. Johnston, with an- 
other army, was at Jackson, forty-five miles east of 
Vicksburg, ready to move on Grant's rear the moment 
he advanced north on that place. The latter manoeuvred 
so as to favor this plan, and deceived the enemy into the 
belief that he designed to cross the Big Black, in the track 
of Bowen, and follow him to the intrenchments of Vicks- 
burg. Cutting loose from Grand Gulf, and depending 



CAPTURE OF JACKSON. 71 

mainly on the country to supply his lack of" forage and 
supplies, he moved to the Big Black. Instead of crossing, 
however, he inarched rapidly up the southern bank, 
and struck off east toward Jackson. On the way 
Logan found two brigades at Raymond, and crushed 
them with one terrible blow. Through the blinding rain, 
and mud,, and darkness, McPherson, commanding the 
right, pushed on, and at length, on the 14th, came 
within two and a half miles of Jackson, where the enemy 
was drawn up in line of battle on the crest of a hill. A 
plain stretched away from the bottom of it, swept by the 
rebel artillery. But over it, with shouldered arms, and 
drums beating, the gallant troops moved without flinch- 
ing, till within pistol-shot of the hostile ranks, when, 
giving one terrible volley, they sprang forward with 
the bayonet, rending the rebel host like a bolt from 
heaven. 

Jackson was won, and Grant felt a load lifted from 
his heart as he saw himself planted between the rebel 
armies. 

No time, however, Avas to be lost. Pemberton was 
already on his way from Vicksburg to assail his rear, and 
there could be no rest to his army till it once more touch- 
ed the Mississippi north of Vicksburg, where suj^plies and 
men to any needed amount could reach him. That very 
evening, leaving Sherman at Jackson to complete the 
work of destruction of railroads, bridges, &c., he wheeled 
about, and moved rapidly back toward Vicksburg, 
When he got within two miles of the Big Black river, 
he came upon the enemy strongly posted on Champion's 
Hill, in thick woods, with their batteries sweeping all the 
roads and fields over which his columns must advance. 
Grant, who had so boldly swung his army clear of its 



72 LIEUTENANT-GENERAL GRANT. 

base, and set it down in the open country beset by foes 
on every side, commanded this battle in person. A 
heavy force from the north was hurrying down to crush 
him between it and Pemberton, and he must not only win 
victories at every step, but win them suddenly. He 
could n-ot risk even a delay, much less a repulse, and he 
at once opened the contest. The enemy chargjed boldly, 
and at length drove the centre slowly back. But Grant 
had taken the precaution, when he heard of the proximity 
of the rebels, to send back to Sherman to hurry forward, 
and one of his divisions coming up at this critical mo- 
ment, restored the battle. Meanwhile, Logan had been 
working to the rebel left, and no sooner did Grant receive 
word that he was in the desired position, than he gave 
orders for the whole line to advance. With a cheer, a 
plunging volley, and a headlong dash, the weary but 
excited troops went through the thickets and over the hill, 
taking two batteries and a thousand prisoners. But 
Grant had pushed them so fiercely forward in the conflict, 
that he lost between two and three thousand men. 

Keeping on the next morning, he found the enemy 
strongly posted on both sides of the Big Black river. On 
the side nearest him they were encircled by a bayou with 
its extremities touching the river above and below their 
position, while on the opposite side arose a blutf black 
with batteries. McClernand had scarcely opened with 
his artillery, when the gallant Osterhaus was wounded. 
In the meantime. General Lawler had crept unob- 
served around to the right till he reached the bayou, 
when the men, flinging their blankets and haversacks on 
the ground, plunged into the water, and struggling across 
amid the raining bullets, suddenly appeared in the enemy's 
rear. Fifteen hundred prisoners and eighteen cannon fell 



VICKSBURG INVESTED. 73 

into our hands here, while our total loss was only three 
hundred and seventy-three. 

The railroad and turnpike bridges both crossed the 
river at this point, and the rebels, on the opposite bluff, 
no sooner saw our troops in possession of this position, 
than they destroyed them, thus cutting off at the same 
time our array and that portion of theirs which held 
the position within the semicircular bayou. Taking 
advantage of this transient delay to our forces, Pember- 
ton withdrew his troops into the defences of Vicksburg, 
Grant now had but one more step to take, when he would 
feel for the first time comparatively safe, viz., strike the 
Mississippi above Vicksburg with the right wing of his 
army. Confident that he would defeat the enemy on the 
Big Black, he had sent Sherman to cross farther up- 
stream, and move across to the Yazoo, where Porter lay 
with his gunboats. In the meantime, bridging the Big 
Black river, McClernand passed on in front, McPhersoii 
following the road taken by Sherman, till the latter bore 
to the right to strike the Yazoo. Haines' Bluff, which 
for so many months had been a lion in our path to Vicks- 
burg, was cut oft' from the latter place by Sherman's 
movement, and fell into our hands. By the 19th of May, 
the three army corps were in position, extending from the 
Mississippi below to its banks above Vicksburg, thus 
completely investing the place. 

After long months of toiling and waiting — after 
repeated failures, till the enemy laughed in derision at 
Grant's futile obstinacy, he had at last, by one of the most 
brilliant military movements on record, succeeded in 
flinging his strong arms around the Gibraltar of the Mis 
sissippi. From the perseverance he had shown from the 
outset, from the tireless energy with which he had worked 



74 LIEUTENTAHT-GENERAL GRANT. 

undeviatingly toward that single point, from the rapid 
and tremendous blows he had dealt as he bore swiftly and 
fiercely down upon it at last, Pemberton well knew that 
"no maiden's arms were round him thrown." Still, 
notwithstanding all that Grant had overcome, his long 
marches, frequent battles, and unbroken victories, had 
only brought him to the threshold of his great undertak- 
ing. The work to be accomplished was yet all before him. 
Thinking that the heavy blows he had dealt the 
enemy, and his sudden appearance in his rear, had so 
demoralized him that he could not make a stubborn 
stand behind his defences, he attempted to carry the 
place by a sudden assault. Repulsed in this, he spent 
several days in perfecting communications with his sup- 
plies, and, on the 2 2d, made a second grand assault along 
the whole line. He caused the watches of the corps 
commanders to be set by his, so that the advance should 
be simultaneous, and at ten o'clock the devoted columns 
moved off. Grant took a commanding position near 
McPherson's quarters, from which he could see the advanc- 
ing columns in front, and a part of those of Sherman 
and McClernand. Smoking his ine\dtable cigar, he saw 
them steadily cross the field, enter the deadly fire, and 
with banners '' high advanced," move proudly on the 
strong defences. The fire of the enemy was fearful, and 
the earth trembled under the crash of artillery. At first, 
it seemed as if nothing could stop that grand advance ; 
and through the whirling smoke Grant saw, with delight, 
all along the line, here and there banners planted on the 
outer slope of the enemy's bastions. But when breast to 
breast with those strong defences, the fire that swept them 
was so awful, and the barriers that opposed them so in- 
accessible, that they could advance no farther. For five 



SIEGE OF VICKSBURG. 75 

hours they stood and struggled, and fell there in vain, 
and at length were compelled to give it up. Our loss 
was heavy, and no advantage gained. 

Gen. Grant gave several reasons for making this as- 
sault, the chief of which were that Johnston was being 
daily reinforced, and in a few days would be able to fall 
on his rear ; that the possession of Vicksburg would have 
enabled him to turn upon him and drive him from the 
State ; that its immediate capture would have prevented 
the necessity of calling for large reinforcements that were 
needed elsewhere ; and, finally, that the troops were im- 
patient to possess Vicksburg, and would not have worked 
in the trenches with the same zeal, not believing it neces- 
sary, as they did, after their failure to carry the works by 
storm. 

These were good reasons, but we suspect that he did 
not give the strongest one of all. In his attack on Fort 
Donelson, he had said, in reply to Buckners rec[uest for 
an armistice, " I propose to move immediately on your 
works." This, at that time, he could say, for the position 
that Smith had secured made success morally certain. 
The Secretary of War, however, had taken up the phrase, 
and in a letter, sounding more like the rhodomontade of 
a school-boy than the utterance of a Secretary of War of 
a great nation, said, in eiFect, that this was all the 
strategy needed to secure victories. It had caught the 
popular ear, and being uttered at a time when it was all 
the fashion to ridicule siege operations — " General Spade" 
was a sobriquet applied to any one who undertook them 
— it was hardly safe for a commander to resort to them 
without the most indubitable evidence that nothing else 
could be done. He knew perfectly well that he was ex- 
pected to move immediately on the enemy's works, and 



Y6 LIEUTENANT-GENERAL GRANT. 

he was far from sure, if he did not do so, that the extra* 
ordinary War Department would not see that some one 
was put in his place that would. The feelings of that 
Department, and the popular sentiment at the time, 
would not have sustained him if he had not made the 
attempt. It was not after all, we imagine, so much the 
impatience of his devoted troops, as the outside impatience, 
that he feared. 

The second assault, however, settled the question, and 
he sat down before the place in regular siege, and soon 
reinforcements began to pour in to him. These he im- 
peratively needed, for between casualties and sickness, his 
actual effective army, when he began the investment of 
Vicksburo;, numbered less than that of the garrison. 

Forts were now erected over against forts ; corridors, 
passages, and pits were dug ; the parallels gradually 
worked closer and closer, notwithstanding the steady play 
of artillery and ceaseless volleys of musketry, and a blaz- 
ing southern sun. Day after day the work went steadily 
on, and on the 25th, the first mine was sprung under one 
of the principal forts of the enemy, and a fierce, bloody 
struggle ensued for its possession. Other mines were 
dug — the enemy ran countersaps, so that often only a 
thin wall of earth divided the hostile working parties. 
All this time, at intervals, Porter was thundering away 
in the Mississippi at the stronghold, and in the conflict 
lost the Cincinnati. Shells were flung from mortars, 
and two one hundred pound Parrott guns mounted on 
rafts, and from countless batteries, until a horrible tempest 
fell on the hostile works and on the city itself, compelling 
the inhabitants to dig caves in the earth in which to hide 
from the incessant rain of death. Famine at length 
began to stare the garrison in the face, while Grant had 



AN ARMISTICE PROPOSED. 77 

dug his way up so close to the works, that a single bound 
would send his eager columns over them. 

For forty-six days did he patiently dig his way to* 
wsivd the doomed city, until Pemberton, who had ex- 
hausted every means of defence, and held on till his 
scanty provisions were nearly gone, waiting and hoping 
for Johnston to raise the siege, at length gave up in des- 
pair, and sent a flag of truce to Grant with the following 
communication : 



General : I have the honor to propose to you an armistice for 

hours, with a view to arranging terms for the capitulation of Vicksburg. To 
this end, if agreeable to you, I will appoint three Commissioners to meet a 
like number to be appointed by yourself, at such a place and hour to-day as 
you may find convenient. I make this proposition to save the further effu- 
sion of blood, which must otherwise be shed to a frightful extent, feeling 
myself fully able to maintain my position for a yet indefinite period. This 
communication will be handed you under a flag of truce, by Major-General 
James Bowen. Very respectfully, 

Your obedient servant, 

J. 0. Pemberton. 



To this Grant replied as follows : 

Geneeal : Your note of this date, just received, proposes an armistice ol 
several hours, for the purpose of arranging terms of capitulation through 
Commissioners to be appointed, &c. The efl:usion of blood you propose stop- 
ping by this course, can be ended at any time you may choose, by an un- 
conditional surrender of tlie city and garrison. Men who have shown so 
much endurance and courage as those now in Vicksburg, will always chal- 
lenge the respect of an adversary, and, I can assure you, will be treated with 
all the respect due them as prisoners of war. I do not favor the proposi- 
tion of Commissioners to arrange terms of capitulation, because I have no 
'other terms than those indicated above. 

I am. General, very respectfully, 

Your obedient servant, 

U. S. Geant, Major-General. 

This was followed by an interview between the two 



78 LIEUTENANT-GENERAL GRANT. 

generals, midway between the two armies, at three oVlock, 
in which Pemberton insisted on terms which Grant 
could not accept, and they parted. Grant saying that he 
would give in a letter his ultimatum : this was the sur- 
render of the place and garrison — the latter to be paroled 
and march away, the officers with their regimental cloth- 
ing, and staff, field, and cavalry officers one horse eacli; 
the rank and file to be allowed all their clothing — nothing 
inore — and to take such rations as they needed, and uten- 
sils for cooking them. 

These terms, Avith very little modifications, were 
accepted, and the next day, the ever-memorable 4th of 
July, the national flag went up over the stronghold amid 
loud cheers. On this same anniversary of the birth- 
day of our Independence, there was being decided amid 
flame, and thunder, and carnage, the battle of Gettysburg. 
East and west, at the same time, on the same Jubilee day, 
the rebellion culminated, and ever after, though with 
unequal movements, staggered downward to its final 
overthrow. 



CHAPTER lY. 

FALL OP PORT HUDSON— THE PRESIDENT'S LETTER TO GRA:NT — REVIEW 
OP THE CAMPAIGN — A PUBLIC RECEPTION IN VICKSBURG — VISITS 
NEW ORLEANS — IS THROWN FROM HIS HORSE AND INJURED — PLACED 
OVER THE MILITARY DIVISION OP THE MISSISSIPPI — PLACED IN COM- 
MAND AT CHATTANOOGA — ORDERS SHERMAN TO MARCH ACROSS THE 
COUNTRY TO JOIN HIM — HIS PLAN FOR RAISING THE SIEGE — THE BAT- 
TLE — grant's appearance on THE FIELD — THE GRAND ATTACK OF 
THE CENTRE UNDER HIS OWN EYE — MISSIONARY RIDGE CARRIED — THE 
PURSUIT — AN INDIAN CHIEF's OPINION OF GRANT — THE PRESIDENT'S LET- 
TER OF THANKS — GRANT's ORDER — CONGRESS VOTES- HIM A MEDAL- 
HE VISITS NASHVILLE AND KNOXVILLE— REFUSES TO MAKE A SPEECH 
— CREATION OF THE RANK OP LIEUTENANT-GENERAL — GRANT NOMINA- 
TED TO IT — ENTERS ON HIS DUTIES — IMMENSE PREPARATIONS FOR 
THE COMING CAMPAIGN — THE COUNTRY'S PATIENCE UNDER DELAYS — 
TWO ARMIES TO MOVE SIMULTANEOUSLY — THE BELL OP DESTINY 
BEGINS TO TOLL. 

A FEW days after the surrender of Vicksburg, Port 
Hudson, which was a mere pendant to it, capitulated, 
and the Mississippi was open to the Gulf. 

The event was hailed with enthusiastic joy through- 
out the land che South was cut in twain, and one 
or two more bisections, it was felt, would finish the 
monstrous abortion called the Southern Confederacy. 
Grant was blamed for paroling the garrison, and the act 
complicated very much the after-exchange of prisoners of 
war, or rather ostensibly so, for the actual cause of the 
difficulty lay entirely outside of this arrangement. 

The President wrote a letter of congratulation to • 



so LIEUTENANT-GENERAL GEANT. 

Grant, in which he said, " When you got below, and took 
Port Gibson, Grand Gulf, and vicinity, I thought you 
sliould go down the river and join General Banks; and 
when you turned northward, east of the Big Black, I fear- 
ed it was a mistake. I now wish to make a personal 
acknowledgment that you were right, and I was wrong." 
This letter was a good deal commented on, the op- 
position declaring that it showed what a blunder the 
Government would have committed, if it had been able to 
have its own way. As events turned out. Grant was 
right : and there is never any use in reasoning against 
success. But in truth, looking at all the facts and un- 
certainties of the case, prudence would have dictated that 
if Banks would not join Grant, he had better join him. 
The former should have at once raised the siege of Port 
Hudson, and entered on the campaign of the latter. As 
he would not, however, the course that Grant took, with 
the comparatively small number of troops under him, 
was fraught with the deepest peril. When it was known 
that he had cut loose from his base, and, Cortez-like, 
struck off into the interior, the President was not the 
only one who feared that he had made a mistake ; but 
all students of military history trembled for him. Had 
this been the only course left open for him, the case 
would have been different ; but, by a little delay, he 
doubtless could have had the army of Banks, and been 
made sure against any overwhelming disaster. Where- 
as, by the course he took, he not only ran the risk of de- 
feat, but perilled the safety of his entire army. When 
Napoleon adopted similar tactics in his great Italian 
campaign, no more soldiers were within his reach, and 
what he did, he knew must be done with the army under 
him. This was not strictly the case with Grant, and 



HIS NEW COMMAND. 81 

hence the great risk he run was to some extent unneces- 
sary. But, as before remarked, it is idle to reason against 
success. Grant won it, and not by mere good luck, but 
by brilliant manoeuvring, swift marching, and splendid 
fighting ; and he at once rose to the first rank among the 
generals of the army. Victory sometimes so dazzles 
men, that they cannot see the blunders committed, and 
that ouo-ht to have brouoht defeat ; but in this case, 
from the moment that Grant took the bold resolution of 
cutting loose from his communications, he made no mis- 
take, but moved toward his object like one of heaven's 
own thunderbolts, 

" Shattei'ing that it might reach, and shattering 
What it reached." 

Grant now took up his headquarters in Vicksburg, and 
soon after went to Mempliis to superintend the affairs of his 
department, when he was honored with a public reception. 

On the first of September he sailed for New Orleans. 
During his visit there, while reviewing the Thirteenth 
Corps, he was throwai from his horse, and badly bruised. 
Before he was entirely recovered, he went North, and at 
Indianapolis met General Halleck by appointment, who 
gave him a general order, which put him in command of 
the " Departments of the Ohio, of the Cumberland, and 
of the Tennessee, constituting the Military Division of the 
Mississi])|)i." This was by far the most extensive depart- 
ment yet given to any one commander. 

In the mean time Rosecrans had been defeated at 
Chickamauga, and shut up in Chattanooga. Thomas 
for awhile superseded him, when Grant was ordered 
there to take command in person. Sherman, mean- 
while, whom Grant, after the capture of Vicksburg, 



82 LIEUTENANT-GENERAL GRANT. 

sent back to Jackson to drive out the rebels, had been 
previously ordered to send a division to Memphis, to 
march from thence across the country, to the relief of 
Chattanooga. Another order immediately followed, 
directing him to move with his whole army. 

When Grant reached Chattanooga, he found affairs 
in a desperate state. Bragg had closed round it, his 
lines reaching from the river north of the place, along 
Missionary Ridge, to Lookout Moimtain on the south, 
and so cutting off the communications of the army, that 
all supplies had to be dragged for sixty miles across the 
country, and over abominable roads. In fact, there was 
momentarily danger of their being permanently severed, 
when the army in Chattanooga would have to retreat 
with the loss of its artillery, even if it saved itself In 
the meantime, batteries were planted by the rebels -all 
along the heights that overlooked the place, ready at any 
moment to open a bombardment upon it. Bragg, confi- 
dent of success, had previously sent off Longstreet, 
to drive Burnside from Kuoxville. Government, aware 
of the peril to this great strategic point, had hurried off 
from the east Hooker, with two corps, but even his arrival 
did not make Grant strong enough to assume the offensive. 

He, however, found a giant to lean upon in Chatta- 
nooga, in the noble Thomas, and with him calmly surveyed 
the prospect before him. His plans were soon laid, and 
he only waited the arrival of Sherman, toiling across the 
country, to put them in operation. He had previously 
made a lodgment on the south side of the Tennessee, at 
Brown's Ferry, three miles below where Lookout Moun- 
tain abuts on the river, by which navigation was opened 
to the ferry, thus shortening his land transportation, 
and securing certam supplies to the army. Fifty pon- 



CHATTANOOGA. 83 

toons, carrying twelve hundred men, were floated by 
night down the river, unobserved by the enemy's pickets, 
and landed at the ferry. These were immediately 
ferried across to the opposite side, and about three thou- 
sand men, who had been secretly marched down to the 
point and concealed, were brought over, and the position 
secured, compelling the enemy to retreat to Lookout 
Mountain. In less than forty hours, the Eleventh Corps 
was also across, and encamped in Lookout Vallev 
Grant now had a foothold on the left flank of the rebel 
line, and he only waited the arrival of Sherman to take 
position on the right flank above Chattanooga, to carry 
out his projected attack. In the mean time, Bragg sent 
a message to Grant, to remove non-combatants from the 
place, as he was about to open his batteries upon it. To 
this Grant returned no reply, for he was about ready 
to answer with his batteries and charging columns. 
Sherman's army, when it finally reached Chattanooga, 
was weary and footsore, yet no time could be given it 
for rest, and it marched at once to its destined position. 
On the 24th of November it crossed the Tennessee, on a 
pontoon bridge, the head of which on the south shore had 
been secured the night before by a surprise ; and took up 
its position on Missionary Ridge, thus threatening 
Bragg's immediate communications. The day before, 
• Th«t)mas had made a reconnoissance in his front to develop 
the enemy's line, and taken, after a short conflict, Indian 
Hill or Orchard Knob, that overlooked the rebel rifle- 
pits. Hooker, in the mean time, pressed up the rugged 
height of Lookout Mountain, driving the enemy before 
him; and on the morning of the 25th, looked down from 
his dizzy elevation on Chattanooga below, with which he 
established communications. 



^4 LIEUTENANT-GENERAL GRANT. 

BATTLE OF CHATTANOOGA. 

Everj'tliiiig liad thus far worked as (zrant had 
planned ; and now the hist blow was to be struck, 
Sherman was to press heavily Bragg's right on Mis- 
sionary Ridge and threaten his communications, so that 
he would be compelled to weaken his centre to repel the 
advance, and then Thomas was to move straight on the 
centre, and finish the battle with a clap of thunder. 

Sherman commenced his attack early iii the morning, 
and moving down from the elevation he occupied, crossed 
a road, and attempted to ascend the opposite heights. It 
was a fearful work that had been assigned him, and his 
bleeding columns swayed upward and backward in the 
uncertain fight, yet each hour pressing the enemy's right 
heavier and heavier. Hookei- had come down from 
Lookout Mounta.in, where he had been fighting above 
the clouds, and was thundering away on the rel:)el left. 
Grant, in the centre, stood on Orchard Knob, smoking 
his cigar, listening to the thunder-crash to the left and 
right of him, and waiting for the auspicious moment when 
Thomas could be sent in on the centre. The forenoon 
slowly wore away, and Sherman, seeing the rebel bat- 
teries and troops steadily increasing in his front, looked 
anxi'ously away toward Orchard Knob ; but all was 
silent there. Noon came, and on both extremities the 
roar of battle still shook the heights, yet between, all 
was motionless and silent. The hour of destiny had not 
yet come. Sherman continued to j^ress the enemy fiercely 
in his front, compelling him still more to weaken his cen- 
tre to resist the advance ; but his men were getting 
weary, and his thinned Ijattalions saw no hope of reach- 
ing the bristling heights above them. The afternoon 
passed on leaden wings to them ; but at length Grant 



A sachem's views of grant. 85 

saw that tlie decisive moment had arrived. It was now 
nearly four o'clock, and the signal to advance was given. 
This was six cannon-shots fired at intervals of two sec- 
onds each. With regular beat, one, two, three sounded, 
till, as the last deep reverberation rolled away over the 
heights, there was a sudden resurrection, as from the bowels 
of the earth, of that apparently dead line. Three divi- 
sions of the Army of the Cumberland composed it. A 
mile and a half of broken country lay before them to the 
rifle-pits at the base of Missionary Ridge, and then there 
remained the rocivy hill, four hundred feet high, to mount, 
every inch of it swept by artillery and musketry. Over 
this intervening space the columns moved at a rapid pace, 
breasting the fire of the rebel batteries, and at length 
reached the rifle-pits. Clearing these at a bound, they be- 
gan to climb the steep. Met by the awful fire that rolled 
in a lava-stream down its sides, the regiments worked 
their way slowly up. Taking the matter into their own 
hands, they seemed to act without orders, each deter- 
mined to be first at the top. It was a thrilling spectacle 
to see those banners advance — now one, and then another, 
fluttering highest up the acclivity amid flame and smoke. 
The ranks melted rapidly away, but the survivors kept 
on. Grant gazed, apparently unmoved, at the sight, yet 
with his whole soul in the struggle. Even the impassa- 
ble Thomas, as he saw the slow and doubtful progress, 
exclaimed to Grant, "I fear. General, they will never reach 
the top." The latter, pufling the smoke fi'om his cigar, 
merely replied, " Give 'em time, General ; give 'em time." 
At last, just as the sun was sinking in the west, flooding 
the heights with his departing rays, the regimental flags 
swung out in the breeze on the top, and then a muffled 
shout, like the far-ofl' murmur of the sea, came down to 



86 LIEUTENANT-GENERAL GRANT. 

Grant. Taken up by division after division, it rolled 
gloriously along the whole line. The bloody field waa 
won, and Bragg in full retreat. All next day he was 
pursued, as he fled, leaving guns, prisoners, wagons, and 
material strung along his jDath. Over seven thousand 
prisoners and forty-seven pieces of artillery were the 
fruits of the \dctory. 

Having chased Bragg to Dalton, he then tui-ned his 
attention to Longstreet, who was laying siege to Knox- 
ville. Sherman was despatched to its relief, and Long- 
street was compelled to raise the siege and retreat toward 
Virginia. 

Never was a more skilfully-planned battle, or one 
more gallantly fought. The victory was a clear ti'iumph 
of military genius, and steady, determined fighting. 
Bragg was fairly and openly met in his chosen position, 
behind his defences, on heights he deemed impregnable, 
and utterly routed. 

Grant had in this battle an Indian chief on his stafi", 
and the grave sachem thus desciibes his impressions of 
the General during the successive actions : " It has been 
a matter of universal wonder that Gen. Grant was not 
killed, for he was always in front, and perfectly heedless 
of the storm of hissing bullets and screaming shells flying 
around him. His apparent want of sensibility does not 
arise from* heedlessness, heartlessuess, or vain military 
affectation, but from a sense of the responsibility resting 
on him when in battle. When at Ringgold, we rode for 
a half a mile in the face of the enemy, under an incessant 
fire of cannon and musketry ; nor did we ride fast, but 
on an ordinary trot ; and not once, do I l^elieve, did it 
enter the General's mind that he was in danger. I was 
by his side, and watched him closely. In riding that difr 



BATTLE OF CHATTANOOGA. 8^ 

tance, we were going to the front, and I could see that lie 
was studying the positions of the tw^o armies, and, of 
course, planning how to defeat the enemy, who was here 
making a desperate stand, and slaughtering our men fear- 
fully. Koads (he says) are almost useless to him, for he 
takes short cuts through helds and woods, and wdll s\vim 
liis horse through almost any stream that obstiiicts his 
way. Nor does it make any difference to him whether 
he has daylight for his movements, for he will ride from 
breakfast until two o'clock next morning, and that, too, 
without eating. The next day he will repeat the same, 
until he has finished the work." 

The country was delirious with joy at this great vic- 
tory, and the President issued a proclamation for a day 
of thanksgiving, and sent the following letter to Grant : 

Washington, December 8th. 
Major- General Grant : 

Understanding that your lodgment at Chattanooga and Knox- 
ville is now secure, I wish to tender you and all under your com- 
mand my more than thanks — my prolbundest gratitude for the skill, 
courage, and perseverance with which you and they, over so great 
difficulties, have effected that important object. God bless you all. 

A. Lincoln. 

Grant issued a congratulatory order to his army, in 
which, at the close, he said : " The General commanding 
thanks you individually and collectively. The loyal 
people of the United States thank and bless you. Their 
hopes and prayers for your success against this unholy 
rebellion are with you daily. Their faith in you will not 
be in vain. Their hopes will not be blasted. Their 
prayers to Almighty God will be answered. You will 
yet go to other fields of strife, and with invincible bra- 
very and unflinching loyalty to justice and right, whicij 



88 LIEUTENANT-GENERAL GRANT. 

have characterized you in the past, you will prove that 
no enemy can withstand you, and that no defence, how- 
ever formidable, can check your onward march." 

Congress voted him a medal, and different Legisla- 
tures passed votes of thanks, and the country with one 
voice demanded that he should be given the chief com- 
mand of all the armies. A bill was therefore passed by 
Congress, ci eating the rank of lieutenant-general, which 
had been conferred as an honorary title on Gen. Scott ; 
and soon after the President sent in Grant's name for 
the office. 

In the mean time Grant went to Nashville, in order 
to visit Knoxville to inspect in person the situation of 
affairs in that portion of his depai'tment. At the latter 
place he was received with wild enthusiasm by the peo- 
ple, and, in accordance with tlie universal custom of the 
Americans, a speech was demanded of him. But he in- 
formed them that lie never made a speech, and knew 
nothing about it; and no speech was got out of him. 
Returnino;, he visited St. Louis to see a sick child, and 
while there a public dinner was given him. 

His nomination for the position of lieutenant-general 
being confirmed, he went to Washington in February to 
assume the duties of his high office. All felt that a new 
era was now to commence. Congress, in creating the 
rank, confessed that it had interfered quite long enough 
in the conduct of military affairs, and thought the Cabi 
net had too. The Secretary of 'War saw in it that the 
country was tired of his management, and that hereafter 
he must confine himself to the appropriate duties of his 
department, which he knew so well how to perform. 
The new strategy he had introduced, " to move imme- 
diately on the enemy's works," had had its full and 



THE PREPARATION, 89 

bloody trial; costing the country probably a hundred 
thousand men. The ruling politicians had become 
alarmed. Settino; out with the determination to control 
the war, they began to see that under their management 
the country would soon get sick of it altogether, and hence 
if they did not want to break down utterly, they must 
place its conduct exclusively in military hands. There 
was a general sentiment that they dare not lay hands on 
Grant, for with his removal there seemed nothing but 
chaos beyond. 

Grant entered on his high duties without any flourish 
of trumpets or high-sounding proclamations, or extrava- 
gant promises, but like one who knew thoroughly the 
great work before him ; and at once addressed himself to 
its accomplishment. Sherman was given the vast west- 
ern command which he himself had held, and the two 
were to move together at the appointed time, to deal the 
rebellion its death-blow. Weary months now passed 
away. Spring came with its genial weather and hard 
roads, and yet Grant did not move. Still no murmurs 
were heard, such as filled the land when the Army of the 
Potomac first remained so long quiet on the same ground. 
The country had had enough of popular campaigning, and 
in the thi-ee terrible years it had passed through, at last 
learned the much-needed lesson of patience. The *' On to 
Richmond " cry, which so long dazed the brains of many, 
was no more heard. It was plain that Grant was to be 
let alone, and in that lay our only hope. 

But though everything seemingly continued so quiet 
around Washington, the land was shaking to its centre 
under the mighty preparations going forward. The peo- 
ple did not know of it, because the amazing activity was 
made up of so many minor movements, each one of which 



90 



LIEUTENANT-GENERAL GRANT. 



was not of sufficient magnitude to attract notice. But 
Grant had determined that when he gave the word for 
the mighty host, stretching from the Mississippi to the 
Atlantic to move, it should be a fair test between the 
power of the North and South — that the coming strug- 
gle should be conclusive and final. All through the 
early spring, the countless railroads of the North groaned 
undei- the weight of troops, either new levies, or old sol- 
diers returning to their respective regiments. Transports 
loaded with ordnance and supplies darkened all our water 
courses. The great thoroughfares of travel and commerce 
were monopolized by the Government, and he who could 
have embraced the vast North at that time with a single 
glance, would have been terrified at the mighty militaiy 
preparations going on. He would have seen that a 
struggle was impending, the like of which the world had 
never seen. 

The South, through its spies, was aware of this, and 
Davis saw that the coming campaign would settle the 
fate of the Confederacy. He therefore began to gather 
all his resources for the decisive struggle. Neither was 
the navy idle, for six hundred vessels of war hung like 
full-charged tliunder-clouds around the rebel fortifica- 
tions. 

Never, since the time of the first Napoleon, were such 
vast military resources placed in the hand of one man as 
now rested in that of Grant. 

Thus the month of April passed, and the waiting 
people wondered at his inaction. But hj the first of 
May he was ready. While the navy was to strike along 
the coast at important points, the two armies, one east 
and the other west, were to move simultaneously forward 
— Sherman with Atlanta as his objective point, and Grant 



THE GRAND MOVEMENT. 91 

with Richmond for his. The Alleghany Mountains di- 
vided them, and thousands of miles intervened, and yet 
one head was to control both. When everything was 
ready, the two armies arose from their long inaction and 
moved forward. The great bell of destiny, hung in the 
blue dome of heaven, began to toll the knell of the Con- 
federacy, and the solemn sound never ceased, till its hide- 
ous form was laid in its deep, dark grave forever. 



CHAPTER V 

THE RICHMOND CAMPAIGN. 

OHAEACTER AND PLAN OF THE CAMPAIGN THE ARMY GROSSES THE EAPIDAN 

THE THREE DAYS' BATTLE IN THE WILDERNESS — LEE's RETREAT TO SPOTT- 

6YLVANIA — BATTLES BEFORE IT GRANT, BY A FLANK MOVEMENT, MARCHES 

TO THE NORTH ANNA RIVER — MAKES A SECOND FLANK MOVEMENT TO THE 

PAMUNKEY THE OHIOKAHOMINT — BATTLE OF COLD HARBOR — STRENGTH OF 

THE REBEL WORKS HE MARCHES TO THE JAMES RIVER — CROSSES IT AND 

ATTACKS PETERSBURG IS REPULSED — REVIEW OF THE CAMPAIGN — SIEGE 

OF RICHMOND EARLY SENT TO THE VALLEY OF THE SHENANDOAH GOES 

INTO MARYLAND AND PENNSYLVANIA THE MINE OF BURNSIDE — GRANT 

DEFEATED AT HATCHEr's RUN — WINTER QUARTERS — CAPTURE OF FORT 

FISHER SHERiMAN ADVANCING DESPERATION OF THE REBELS — THEIR 

ATTEMPT TO TAKE CITY POINT WITH IRON-CLADS NARROW ESCAPE OF 

grant's army ATTACK ON FORT 8TEADMAN LAST GREAT MOVEMENT OF 

THE ARMY DESCRIPTION OF PETERSBURG AND RICHMOND EVACUATED — 

THE RACE FOR LIFE OF THE REBEL ARMY THE SURRENDER — ACCOUNT OF 

IT- — A MOMENTOUS SABBATH — SURRENDER OF JOHNSTON COLLAPSE OF THE 

REBELLION — JOY OF THE PEOPLE ENTHUSIASM FOR GRANT HIS CHARACTER 

Grant's campaign diifered in some respects materially 
from that of Sherman, for while the latter had but one 
line of communication A\'ith his supplies, and that length- 
ening as he advanced, the former could change his base so 
as to keep it always about the same distance from his armj^, 
or, at least, never very remote. Again, the former was 
exposed to flank attacks on either side, while the latter 
could be threatened only on his right, and that by the 
Shenandoah valley, which a moderate force could protect. 



OUTLINE OF THE CAMPAIGN. 93 

Grant had also a much larger army, for while that of 
Sherman consisted of a hundred thousand men, the 
former had in his army proper, or cooperating with him 
against Richmond, or within call, probably double that 
number. But he had likewise the ablest commander, 
and the grandest army of the Southern Confederacy to 
contend against. Besides, Lee was thoroughly ac- 
quainted with the country, and its capacities for de- 
fence, and, from two similar campaigns against him, had 
been able to fix definitely upon the best plan to defeat a 
third. He was, moreover, to act almost entirely on the 
defensive, and fight behind works ; so that, though vastly 
inferior in numbers, not having probably over a hundred 
thousand men, he was able to make it an equal contest. 

Grant probably did not confine himself to one single 
mode of operations. His great object was, whatever in- 
termediate events might happen, to strike Richmond on 
the north side, so that he could sweep around to the 
west, while Butler cut it ofi:' from the south. The 
movements of the latter, therefore, were to corres- 
pond with his. Like Burnside and Hooker, he 
wished, if possible, to get between Lee and his commu- 
nications, and force him at the outset to a decisive battle. 
If he succeeded, and the rebel army was utterly defeated, 
he could take his own course about investing Richmond. 
If Lee was forced to retreat, as he did not doubt he would 
be, he designed to follow him closely to the rebel capital, 
punishing him severely at every step. To render Lee's 
rapid escape by the railroads impossible, he sent Sheridan 
on a raid to break them up. Sigel and Couch, in the 
mean time, were in the Shenandoah valley, protecting his 
flank, and keepino- back reinforcements from that direc- 
tion. 



94 LIEUTENANT-GENERAL GRANT. 

With this general outline before him, Grant, on the 
night of the 3d of May, broke up his encampments, and 
the noble Army of the Potomac moved off toward the 
Rapidan. The next morning it crossed at two fords, 
Ely's and Germania, some five or six miles apart. It 
was divided into three corps — the Second, commanded 
by Hancock, the Fifth, by Warren, and the Sixth, by 
Sedgewick. Hancock, in front, crossed at Ely's ford, 
followed by Warren, while Sedgewick crossed at Ger- 
mania, formmg the right. Lee did not dispute the pass- 
age of the stream, but fell back, so as to protect the 
entire line of railroad from Gordonsville to Saxton's 
Junction. It was thought at the time that he had been 
taken by surprise, but this was, undoubtedly, a mistake. 
The two armies had confronted each other too long at 
that point, not to have it well understood by him that 
a crossing would be attempted in that neighborhood. 
He seemed to think that a more successful attack could 
be made by concentrating a heavy force on the separate 
corps after they were over, and while in process of reach 
ing their appointed positions. Carrying out this plan, he 
first fell on Sedgewick, who had crossed alone, and was in 
rear of the other two corps. If, by a sudden onset, he 
could crush him, or drive him into the river, he could 
sweep do^vn the banks in the rear of the other two corps, 
catting them off from the fords, and destroy the vast 
trains not yet over. 

But Grant designed neither to build pontoon bridges 
or protect fords ; he had crossed without any intention of 
returning. 

The onslaught upon Sedgewick was terrific; but the 
latter, not satisfied with bracing himself up to resist it, 
boldly advanced to meet it. Hurled back, Lee came ou 



BATTLE OF THE WILDERNESS. 95 

again with the same result. Repulsed here, he gathered 
up his bleeding columns, and, quick as lightning, poured 
them into the gap between Hancock and Warren. So 
unexpected and. fierce was this onset, that for a time it 
threatened to be successful. Warren, endeavoring to ad- 
vance, was driven back, and lost two guns. The troops, 
however, rallied, and the fight raged with fearful ferocity 
till nine o'clock, long after darkness had closed over both 
armies. The next morning Lee made a simultaneous 
attack on both wing-s — Lono-street advancino- against 
Hancock, and A. P. Hill against Sedgewick. The fight- 
ing, if possible, was more terrific than the clay previous. 
Before these desperate charges our whole line of battle 
was shaken terribly. In various parts of the field the ranks 
were often thrown into contusion, and once, on the left, 
the battle seemed lost. Grant was standing under a tree, 
smoking, and chipping the bark with his knife, w^hen the 
tidino-s reached him that the left was broken. " I don't 
believe it ;' was his quiet reply. Still, it w^as nearly true, 
and would have been Avholly so, but for the timely arrival 
of Burnside, with his forty or fifty thousand men, consti- 
tuting the reserve. This bringing up the whole reserve 
into action so early in the campaign, shows that Grant 
narrowly escaped the disaster that overtook Burnside 
and Hooker in the same neighborhood. 

Burnside had made a forced march from Manassas, 
and on this eventful morning, with Sedgewick, -svhoiu 
Grant had with great forethought brought over from tlie 
right duriiio; the night, restored the battle. That such 
an enormous concentration of forces was needed here, 
shows how Avell Lee had laid his plans, and how, under 
other circumstances, they would have been successful 
The result taught him, in turn, that he had a commander 



96 LIEUTENANT-GENERAL GRANT. 

to deal with that would give him all he wanted to do. 
The next day no general engagement took place ; but the 
army stood in order of battle, and skirmishes and lesser 
conflicts were constantly occurring. 

This ended the three days' fight in the Wilderness — 
certainly one of the most remarkable on record. Grant 
had at least 250 pieces of artillery ; yet, in the main, they 
slept idly in long rows under the trees, wholly useless in 
this strange struggle, in which the contending hosts 
could see each other only as they came in contact. 

Althousfh the miojhtiest armies that had ever met on 
this continent stood up in a great pitched battle, to one 
on the field it seemed only bushwhacking through a forest 
seven or eight miles in extent. Grant could not see his 
army — he could only hear it. The incessant volleys, roar- 
ing away on either side, till lost in the distance, told of a 
great conflict ; but except so far as ordering up reinforce- 
ments and responding to calls for help, it was a succession 
of separate conflicts. Lee, who knew all the roads 
through this tangled wilderness, had greatly the advan- 
tage in moving his troops from point to point, and thus 
could more easity carry out his object — viz., to turn one 
flank or the other, and compel Grant to fall back across 
the Rapidan, thus repeating over again Fredericksburg 
and Chancellorsville. He fought his army well, and 
with great desperation ; but he failed, and was compelled 
finally to retreat. 

The endurance of the men, on both sides, was won- 
derful. Portions of our army fought and stood in line 
of battle for forty-eight hours continuously. 

Never before did a wilderness present such a spectacle. 
On both sides, probably nearly 30,000 men had fallen, 
and though the wounded ^vere gathered together, the dead 



BATTLE OF SPOTTSYLVANIA. 97 

lay everywhere ; and in the hurry of Lee's retreat and 
Grant's pursuit, those who were buried were often but 
half interred, and arms and legs protruded from the loose 
soil in every direction. 

As Lee retreated towards Spottsylvania, Grant, giv- 
ing his troops no time to rest, pressed toward the same 
point also, hoping to get there first and head oif his 
antagonist. But the former was too quick for him, and 
liartlett's brigade in the advance, which was ordered to 
attack at once on approaching the place — on the supposi- 
tion that oAly cavalry would be found there — ran into 
Longstreet's whole corps, and was fearfully cut up, one 
of his regiments losing three quarters of its number in 
fifteen minutes. Rawlinson's division, which was pushed 
forward to his rescue, also broke in disorder, when War- 
ren, coming up, seized the division-flag and rallied the 
troops in person, and held the ground from eight o'clock 
till noon. Other divisions arriving in the afternoon, 
the contest was renewed at six o'clock, and the first line 
of breastworks carried, though we lost 1,500 men in doing 
it. This was Sunday. The next day was passed in 
skirmishino; and reconnoitrinp;. On Tuesday, Grant 
made a grand attack on the enemy's position, and a most 
terrific conflict followed. Our wearied men fought as 
though fresh from their encampments. Bayonet charges 
occurred in various parts of the line, and the roar of 
artillery, and crash of musketry, and shouts of infuriated 
men, conspired to make that evening a scene of terror in- 
conceivable, indescribable. The carnage was awful ; not 
less than eight or ten thousand men falling on our side 
alone. We took some 1,200 prisoners; but the attack 
failed, and the decimated columns withdrew. 

But neither the obstacles which Grant met, nor the 



98 LIEUTENANT-GENERAL GRANT. 

awful slaughter of his troops, created despondency in his 
heart. On the contrary, they aroused him to more deter- 
mined efforts, and he telegraphed back — "I will light it 
out on this line, if it takes all summer." Keuiforcements 
were hurried on to him, and the garrisons around Wash- 
ington almost emptied to replace his fearful losses. 
The Secretary of War dared no longer interfere as he 
did with McClellan, and keep back troops to protect the 
capital. Grant demanded them, and they were sent for- 
ward. 

The latter now changed his base of supplies to Fred- 
ericksburg, while his army lay around Spottsylvania 
for two weeks, striving in vain to find a weak point in 
the enemy's position, or to overlap his right wing. Every 
day, the roar of artillery shook the earth, and terrible 
assaults on both sides strewed the ground with the dead. 
Heavy rains and fogs set in ; but still the work of death 
went on. We gained some successes — Hancock, in his bril- 
liant charge, taking some 5,000 prisoners ; but it placed 
the army no nearer success, and at length Grant gave it up, 
and resolved on a flank movement. It was hard to come 
to this, for he did not want to force Lee to a retreat, but 
to a decisive battle while far from his base, and with his 
lines of communication cut by Sheridan, who was mak- 
ing havoc with the rebel cavalry. Besides, he did not 
wish to swing round in front of the Richmond works, 
from which McClellan's army had been di'iven two 
years before ; but follow the rebel leader straight into the 
capital from the north. Kautz had cut the railroad be- 
low Petersburg, and Butler, who was occupying Ber- 
muda Hundreds, had destroyed it between that place and 
Richmond, and if he himself could come do^vn on the city 
from the north, its fate would be sealed. Still, no other 



A FLANK MOVEMENT. 99 

resource was left him. So, on Friday night, Hancock 
moved olf to the eastward, and the next night was at 
Bowling Green, seventeen miles from Spottsylvania. Lee, 
however, made aware of the movement, started off Long- 
street's corps the same night, and a race between the two 
armies commenced. The Fifth Corps, Warren's, fol- 
lowed on Saturday morning, and about the same time 
Ewell also started ; and so, corps after corps succeeded, 
until Spottsylvania was deserted. The North Anna 
river was the goal both were aiming at. If Grant could 
reach it first, he would even yet force Lee to the de- 
cisive battle he was straining every nerve to bring 
about. 

Hancock, who had the left, struck the river about a 
mile west of where the Fredericksburg and Richmond 
railroad crosses it. Warren, on the right, struck it four 
miles farther up at the Jericho ford. His advance divi- 
sion. Griffin's, reached it a little after midnight on Mon- 
day, May the 23d, and immediately plunged into the 
stream, flowing waist deep, and stumbling in the darkness 
over its rocky bed, crossed without opposition. 

Hancock, on reaching the bridge over which he was 
to cross, found the enemy in force, and had to carry a 
tke du pont and a fort at the point of the bayonet, which 
he did in gallant style. Once over, he met but little op- 
position, while Warren had to fight his way onward. It 
was now ascertained that the rebels, who had got the 
start, held the South Anna, which had been fortified, 
apparently for just such a contingency as this. 

Grant, seeing that the position could not be forced, at 
least not without a loss that would make it no victory, 
made another flank movement, and swung his army 
around to the Pamunke^ , und on the last day of May,* 



100 LIEUTENANT-GENERAL GRANT. 

pitched his headquarters near Hanover Court House, the 
spot where, two years before, rested the extreme right of 
McClellan's lines. 

The manner in which he handled his immense army 
in these flanking operations, showed a military ability far 
above that which often wins a great battle. It seemed to 
be a single machine in his hand, which he worked with 
consummate skill, and apparently without effort. 

Throwing his army across the Pamunkey, he ad- 
vanced to the Chickahominy, while he transferred his 
base to the White House, from which General W. F. 
Smitli, with the Tenth and part of the Eighteenth corps, 
joined him. 

The rebels had learned wisdom from the lesson taught 
them by McClellan two years before, when the Chicka- 
hominy was crossed without opposition ; for now its banks 
bristled with fortifications. In attempting to force its 
passage, occurred the battle of Cold Harbor. After a 
determined but unsuccessful assault and a bloody repulse. 
Grant, impassible as ever, mounted his horse and rode 
along the lines to ascertain from the different command- 
ers the actual state of things in their immediate front. 
He returned leisurely, absorbed in thought, and it was 
evident that the attempt would not be renewed. He was 
now on the line of McClellan's peninsular campaign, with 
a much larger army, but with difficulties tenfold greater 
to contend with. A deep river, strongly fortified, lay 
before him, and beyond it, five miles of earthworks 
stretched to the rebel capital. It was plain the army 
never could travel that road to Richmond. It lay here, 
however, for nearly ten days, and another July in the 
deadly Chickahominy swamps seemed inevitable. Buf 
Grant, with all his obstinacy and tenacity of purpose, 



MARCH TO THE JAMES RIVER. 101 

never exhibits these qualities in the mode of reaching his 
object. The moment events show that one plan is no 
longer feasible, he instantly drops it and adopts another. 
He clings to his main object with the grip of death, but 
cares little for the mode of securing it. Seeing, there- 
fore, that Richmond could not be reached by the Chicka- 
hominy, he determined by a sudden movement to fling 
his army over the James river, and seize Petersburg, 
which Butler had failed to take, laying the blame of 
defeat on Gilmore. 

This, however, was a delicate operation, for the op- 
posing lines were so close that it was hardly to be ex- 
pected that he could move off, unobserved, such an im- 
mense army, without exposing himself to a sudden attack. 
But concentrating his lines till his front was not more 
than four miles long — making it almost as deep back — and 
throwing up strong works to protect his flanks, he, on 
Sunday night, the 12th of June, quietly and swiftly 
changed front and marched away from the Chickahominy. 
Smith's corps moved ofl" to the White House and em- 
barked on transports, while the rest of the army struck 
across the country to the James river, fifty miles away. 
Passing below the White Oak Swamp, stirring recollec- 
tions were brought to the army of the Potomac, which 
two years before fought their way on almost the same 
line to the point toward which they were now pressing. 

Grant broke up his camp and sent off* all his immense 
trains on the -12th. Two days after, on the 14th, Hancock 
was crossing the James by ferry at Wilcox Landing, and 
the Sixth corps by ferry a d a pontoon bridge a little 
lower down. When Lee found Grant gone from his front, 
he evidently expected he would strike tor Malvern Hill, 
and from that point march on Richmond ; but the 



102 LIEUTENANT-GENERAL GRANT. 

thunder of his guns as he advanced against Petersburg dis- 
pelled this illusion. Grant expected to take Petersburg 
by this sudden movement, and thus advance his lines 
nearer to Richmond on the south side. The attack was 
at iirst successful and the outer works captured, and tlie 
report flew over the land that it had fallen. It ought to 
have been so, and would have been but for a mistake for 
which Grant was not responsible. At the same time that 
our assaulting columns moved against the place in front, 
Butler advanced once more to the railroad connecting it 
with Richmond, and from which he had previously been 
driven. He reached the track and tore it up ; but the 
rebels no sooner found our army repulsed before Peters- 
burg, than they sent a strong force against him, and driv- 
ing him back, repaired the road. 

Grant now had apparently played his last card and 
failed. The most terrific campaign on record had ended, 
and a long siege, of nearly a years duration, was to com- 
mence. He had fought his way, inch by inch, from the 
Rapidan to the James, yet never gained a substantial 
victory. Every battle had been a drawn one, and he had 
lost probably in the neighborhood of a hundred thousand 
men, while he had not weakened the enemy by more 
than half that number.* The latter, after the battle of 
the Wilderness, fought always behind breastworks, where 

* No reports of the losses in these various battles were published, and, so 
far as we know, complete ones at the time were not sent in to the (iovern- 
ment. The above estimate is based on the report of one cgrps made to the 
Government at Spottsylvania. If the reports were not made till after time 
was given for stragglers and the sick and the slightly wounded to return, 
of course the sum-total will not be much more than half the above estimate. 
But we are convinced that if the missing from the muster-rolls after each 
battle were added up, the aggregate would reach very nearly, if not quite, 
this frightful number. The War Department makes the total loss to the 
close 90,000. 



REVIEW OF THE CAMPAIGN. 103 

their losses should not have been, by ordinary rules, 
more than one to three. The friends of McClellan 
pointed to this result, and exclaimed exultingly, "l^oii 
see that McClellan was right, and the Administration 
wrong, Avhen he remonstrated against removing the 
Army of the Potomac from the James, and it would not 
listen to him." 

No man of sense doubts this now. Events have proved 
that General Scott was right when he said, " The great, 
the vital mistake which the Government has made dur- 
ing this war was to recall the Army of the Potomac from 
the Peninsula." The removal of its commander was one 
thing, and that of the army was quite another. One did 
not necessitate the other. They said also, and the Rich- 
mond papers reiterated it, that Grant could have placed 
his army on the spot it now occupied without the loss of 
a man, while, by the way he came, a vast army had dis- 
appeared. That was equally true, but the inference they 
drew from these indisputable facts was not true, viz., that 
Grant should have taken his arm}^ by water, as McClellan 
did, to the Peninsula. The iirst movement was a bril- 
liant one, and should have been sustained, but results 
have shown that had Grant imitated it, he would have 
committed a fatal blunder. When, two years before, the 
Army of the Potomac lay there, Richmond was so pooi'ly 
fortified in that direction, that Lee dared not spare a man 
from his army to operate elsewhere, so that, as McClellan 
said, Washington was best defended at Richmond. But 
that was not so now. The rebel government had profited 
by experience, and thrown up such impregnable works 
around its capital in this direction, that a few men com- 
paratively could hold them against a large army. • Gran I 
was constantly reinforced, so that when he sat down in siege 



104 LIEUTENANT-GENERAL GRANT. 

before Petersburg, he, doubtless, had as large an army 
as the one with which he set out. Yet Lee felt so strong 
that he immediately despatched an army, twenty thousand 
strong, into the valley of the Shenandoah, which gathered 
its harvests, and then crossing into Maryland and Penn- 
sylvania, burned Chambersburg, cut the railroad north 
of Baltimore, and advanced to the very gates of the na- 
tional capital. It spread consternation on every side, 
and although the Nineteenth Corps opportunely arrived 
from New Orleans, it Avas not considered strong enough, 
with all the forces that could be raised in the vicinity, to 
cope with the rebels, and the veteran Sixth Corps had to 
be detached from the Army of the Potomac, and sent to 
protect Washington and the neighboring loyal country. 

Now suppose that Lee lost only forty or fifty thou- 
sand men to our one hundred thousand in the march 
from the Rapidan to the James, and suppose further, 
that Grant had carried his army mtact by transports to 
the James, just as strong and no stronger than it actually 
was when it reached there, and Lee had these forty or 
fifty thousand men that lay in hospitals, ov strewing the 
battle-fields on the line of his retreat, to add to the 
twenty thousand he actually sent to the valley of the 
Shenandoah, swelling the force to sixty or seventy thou- 
sand men, who does not see that the siege of Richmond 
must have been raised, and the whole campaign gone 
over again ? It requires but the simplest arithmetical 
calculation io determine, if twenty thousand men de- 
manded the presence of two additional corps in front of 
Washington, how many corps would sixty or seventy 
thousand men have required. Those dead and wounded 
of Lee-s army, that cost us so heavily, were, in the crisis 
of affairs, absolutely indispensable to the maintenance of 



REVIEW OF THE CAMPAIGN. 105 

the siege of Eichmond. Lee could not replace them — 
we could and did replace our losses. This statement is 
not a theory, but a conclusion proved by after events. 
Grant w^as not responsible for the extraordinary state in 
which he found things when he took chief command. 
After three years of war, he found the rebels menacing 
our capital, instead of we theirs. This, it was plain, had 
got to be reversed, or the war would never end, except in 
our defeat. The blunders of the Secretary of War and of 
the former General-in-chief had brought about this dis- 
gracetiil condition of affairs, at the cost of two armies. 
Grant saw at once it could not be reversed, without a 
terrible sacrifice of life, and he boldly resolved to make 
it. The clear, correct, straightforward view he took of 
the whole matter, allows his great qualities, more than 
any battle he ever won. The English press, in view of 
the terrible loss of life that marked this apparently fruit- 
less campaign, stigmatized him as the great butcher, but 
subsequent events have shown that his course saved 
human life in the end — in fact was the only wise one to 
pursue. Indeed., we believe our own countrymen make 
a mistake here ; they seem to think that Grant, having 
started for Richmond on the route he did, pursued it 
from mere obstinacy of purpose ; that it was the tenacity 
of the sleuthhound once settled on the track, rather than 
the stern conviction that he had chosen the only wise 
course, which impelled him on. Hence they take his 
despatch, " I will fight it out on this line, if it take all 
summer," as simply an evidence of pluck, which is a 
quality greatly admired by Americans. It showed his 
[)luck unquestionably, but it is unjust to suppose that 
this was the utterance of mere pluck ; it was also a 
declaration that he believed he had chosen the right 



106 LIEUTENANT-GENERAL GRA.NT. 

course — notwithstanding lie had not succeeded in anni 
hilating Lee's army — and meant to pursue it, cost what it 
would. It was, in short, a simple reaffirmation of judg- 
ment — a judgment at first made after mature deliberation, 
and now on a careful review, in the light of events, be- 
lieved to be correct. He knew he was right, and that 
being settled, he would fight it out on that line as long 
as he had men to fight with. He is, doubtless, an obsti- 
nate man, but never will stick to a thing, right or 
wrong, simply because he has begun it. His mind is 
too well balanced, and his character built on too lofty a 
model, to allow him to do that. In the light of after 
events, his prescience in the matter appears to us wonder- 
ful. His forecast seemed to embrace all contingencies, 
and select the right thing under any circumstances. 

Grant had now a difficult problem to solve. If he 
should take Petersburg, or rather the line of works that 
commanded it by regular approaches, similar works 
around Richmond, twenty miles off, confronted him ; if he 
operated against Richmond directly from the north side 
of the James, he would have ten or fifteen miles of in- 
trenchments to traverse, and then, if he compelled the 
evacuation of the rebel capital, it would be comparatively 
a barren conquest, if all the lines of communication South 
were open. The great thing, therefore, was first to cut 
these lines ; but the invasion of Maryland by Early, and the 
necessary withdrawal of one of his corps, and the diver- 
sion of reinforcements to Washington, so weakened him, 
that he could not spare the force necessary for such an 
enterprise Still, he did what he could. The Second 
Corps made an advance on the 2 2d, but was repulsed, 
losing 1,600 men and four guns ; but a brilliant movement 
subsequently, north of the James, gave him possession 



SPRINGING OF A MINE. 107 

of an advantageous position. He was never at rest ; and 
Lee must have been amazed at the mental activity and re- 
sources of his adversary. He would not give him a mo- 
ment's repose. The rebel chieftain could never discover 
in the atmosphere around him any signs of the coming 
storm. From that part of the heavens where not a cloud 
could be seen, and all was serene and clear, the thunder- 
bolt was more likely to burst than from any other quarter. 
The stiller the day, the more sure the hurricane. Instead ol 
forcing Grant to take his army back to Washington, Lee 
found himself so fiercely pushed at all points, that he 
could not spare the reinforcements that Early so greatly 
needed. 

During the summer, a mine was run under one of the 
advanced forts of the enemy, which, if once destroyed, it 
was thought that we could get possession of a command- 
ing ridge. The workmen were engaged for more than a 
month in digging this mine, and so noiselessly and se- 
cretly was it done, that the enemy never discovered it. 
An enormous quantity of powder was lodged in it, and on 
the day it was to be exploded. Grant sent a force across 
the James, with an immense army train, to deceive Lee 
into the belief that an attack was meditated on that ex- 
tremity of his lines. The ruse succeeded, and a large 
rebel force was despatched to resist the anticipated attack. 
In the meantime, the assaulting columns were mar- 
shalled, and the mine exploded. The fort rose in the air; 
a huge crater opened in the earth, into which the ap- 
palled garrison sunk ; the storming columns rushed into 
the gorge, and for a moment success seemed certain. But 
delays in the supports gave the rebels time to rally ; the 
colored troops, that were foolishly sent in, broke in con- 
fusion ; everything was thrown into disorder, and the 



108 LIEUTENANT-GENERAL GRANT. 

whole affair proved worse than a miserable failure, for we 
lost nearly 5,000 men, and gained nothing. The rebels 
lost but little over a thousand. Burnside, who had charge 
of the mine and the arrangements for the assault, was so 
severely censured, that he asked to be relieved from his 
command. Some blamed Meade, and some Grant, for not 
taking the entire control of so important a matter into 
their own hands. One thing is certain, neither should 
ever have allowed the colored troops, nor any other equally 
raw ones, to be selected for such an enterprise. None 
but the most veteran, tried, intelligent regiments, should 
have been permitted to undertake so hazardous a task. 
The Committee on the Conduct of the War investigated 
the matter ; but the result, like all its investigations, 
only beclouded the truth. Its sessions had come to be re- 
garded as a great farce by the whole country. 

The total defeat of Early by Sheridan in the Shenan- 
doah Valley, in the autumn, released the pressure on 
Grant from Washington, and he once more turned his 
attention to the destruction of the enemy's communica- 
tions; 

Hence, on the 27th of October, the camp of the Army 
of the Potomac was broken up, four days' rations issued, 
the sick and camp equipage sent to City Point, and the 
army marched to the westward and southwestward for 
Hatcher s Run, which was known to be strongly fortified, 
and which constituted the extreme right of the rebel lines. 
The object was to turn the enemy's right flank, seize the 
forts, and thus having gained the rear, move rapidly across 
to the Southside Railroad. The Second Corps crossed the 
run and moved upon the opposing works ; but the Fifth, 
not being able to come up and form a junction at the right 
time, owing to the nature of the ground, the rebel General 



CAPTURE OF FORT FISHER. 109 

sent a division into the gap, struck right and left, capturing 
guns and provisions, and driving back both corps with 
great loss, and the whole army vv^as withdrawn. The 
matter was made light of at the time ; but it was a sad 
failure. 

The army now went into winter quarters, and with 
the exception of some cavalry raids on the Weldon and 
other railroads, little of interest transpired. Sherman was 
moving across Georgia, and his advent on the sea-coast 
was waited with intense anxiety. 

The great event of the wintq^^, in connection with 
Grant, was the capture of Fort Fisher, which protected 
the entrance to Wilmington — the chief resort of blockade- 
runners. Butler had been sent to take it in December; 
but came back and reported that it could not be done, 
and the attempt would be a useless sacrifice of life. Grant 
did not send him on a reconnoissance to report, but to take 
the place ; and incensed at the miserable abortion which 
he had made of the whole affair, removed him and sent 
him to Lowell, to finish with his own suicidal hand a re- 
putation, bad enough at best, and good only in the eyes 
of those whose love of revenge and cruelty, for the time 
being, overrode their judgment. General Terry was ap- 
pointed in his place, and with the same troops, only 
slightly increased in number, in conjunction with Admi- 
ral Porter, gallantly stormed and took it. 

The heavens were growing black around Lee and 
Davis ; for by the middle of this month, Sherman had 
commenced his northward march from Savannah, and 
soon they might expect the heads of his columns in North 
Carolina. Something must be done, and that quickly ; 
for though Grant had thus far been foiled in every at- 
tempt to seize Richmond, a new foe was fast comino- on 



no LIEUTENANT-GENERAL GRANT. 

the field. From Fort Harrison, north of the James, to 
Hatchers Run, on the south, our lines stretched for nearly 
thirty miles, from every [)ortion of which Grant had made 
demonstrations against the rebel works in vain ; and though 
another year might be wasted in the same fruitless siege, 
the gathering of armies on the south would, in time, 
make his success certain. 

The first desperate attempt to relieve himself was made 
by Lee on the 24th of January, when three iron-clads 
and three wooden vessels, wdth a flotilla of torpedo-boats, 
came down the James river, intending to run the bat- 
teries, take City Point, and thus cut off the base of sup- 
plies for the whole army, and divide the forces north and 
south of the James. A large rebel force was massed north 
of the river to make an overwhelming assault on the army 
there, as soon as City Point was reached. A high tower, 
erected at the latter place for observation by Grant, was to 
be set on fire as a signal of success, and at the same time, of 
attack. The vessels came boldly down in the darkness, 
and it was soon evident that we had nothing on shore or 
in the river that could stop their progress, and consterna- 
tion seized our army along the banks. Most of our gun- 
boats were away with Porter, and the Onondaga, on 
guard, retreated down the river without attempting a de- 
fence. By good fortune, or rather through an over- rul- 
ing Providence, the iron-clads ran aground, and were 
stopped midway in their triumphant career. The country 
did not know what a narro\7 escape Grant and his army 
ran, but the Government did. On the committee of in- 
vestigation which was appointed, the universal testimony 
was, that if these vessels had not got aground, the siege 
of Richmond would have been raised, to say nothing of 
the disasters that might have befallen the army. City 



ALMOST A DISASTER. Ill 

Point once occupied by the rebels, not a pound of food 
could have reached our troops. Grant alone testified 
that he did not think the disaster would have been irre- 
parable, and he, only on the single ground that he had 
[)rovisions enough on hand to last, with great economy, 
two weeks, and by the end of that time he thought the 
Government would have been able to re-open his com- 
munications. On the probable success of outside efforts 
alone, he testified that he relied for salvation. What 
fearful issues hung on the simple question, whether those 
three iron-clads should clear the shoals. A few more 
feet of water, a few more moments of safety, and Grant's 
disaster before Richmond would have eclipsed all that 
had gone before, in the way of misfortune. Heaven be 
praised for its interference in our behalf on that dark 
night! 

But, as the winter drew to a close, events thickened 
rapidly. Wilmington fell ; Scholield had pushed up 
the Neuse to Kinston ; Charleston was evacuated, and 
Sherman's columns were well up toward the North Car- 
olina border ; Sheridan with his 15,000 men was on his 
triumphant march down to the James, burning and des- 
troying, and sending terror into the heart of Richmond. 
Unable to cross the river and cut the railroad south 
of it, and so keep on in that direction to Grant's left 
\ving, he destroyed the James River canal, and sweeping 
down, crossed the country north of the rebel capital, and 
reached the White House in safety. Before he joined 
Grant's army in the latter part of the month (March), Lee, 
now thoroughly alarmed, made another desperate effort 
to rend asunder the coils that were tightening around 
him. Just before daylight, on the 25th, he made a sud- 
den and successful assault on Fort Steadman, intending 



112 LIEUTENANT-GENERAL GRANT. 

to cut through Grant's lines, roll up the army, and per- 
haps keep on to City Point, and so raise the siege of 
Richmond. Our lines at this point were so near to the 
rebels, that the two hostile columns organized for the 
attack, were upon us before we were aware of their inten- 
tions. The first column cut a gap in the abattis, stormed 
through, and with a single bound leaped into the fort. 
Three of the five batteries that surrounded it were at once 
turned upon our fiying troops. The second column in 
the mean time prepared to charge through to the rear. 
But this fort was flanked by Fort McGivry on the one side 
and Forts Hascall and Morton on the other, which at 
once poured a storm of shot into the captured works. 
Shattered and torn, the victors could not all get back 
through the gaps they had made ; and in the mean time 
Hartranft was upon them, and the whole remainder, 2,000 
strong, captured. Humphreys of the Second corps, still 
farther to the left, hearing the uproar through the morn- 
ins; air, and thinkino; the line in his front must have been 
weakened in order to strengthen the attack on Steadman, 
suddenly advanced, breaking the rebel lines and taking 
many prisoners. The sudden success turns into a disas- 
ter, and Lee has evidently played his last card. Grant 
thinks so too, and at once prepares to move. Two days 
after, Sheridan joined him, and was immediately sent tci 
the left. 

To a general understanding of the grand movements 
that follow, it is necessary to remember that the rebel 
riffht rested on the Weldon Railroad, near Hatcher's and 
Gravelly Run. At the point where the works touched it, 
two roads stretched otf, the Boynton plank road, run- 
ning southwesterly to Dinwiddle Court House, a dis- 
tance of about eighteen miles from Petersburg. The 




THE UNION TRIUMPHANT. 



THE FINAL MOVEMENT. 113 

other road, White Oak, ran back directly west, to 
the Five Forks, where five roads meet, three of them 
running straight to the Southside Railroad, the only one 
by which Lee could escape to Danville, and so south. 

The Boynton plank road to Dinwiddle Court House 
was held by the rebels — in fact might be called the outer 
line guarding the Southside Hailroad. But Grant's plans 
being all matured, and Sheridan having arrived, he pro- 
ceeded at once to put them into execution. The Ninth 
corps confronted Petersburg; the Sixth and Twenty- 
fourth came next on the left, then the Second corps, and 
last the Fifth, while still beyond it stood massed Sheri- 
dan's cavalry, whose duty it was to find the rebel right, 
sweep round it, and come back on the enemy's works in 
flank and rear. 

The great eventful moment which was to decide the fate 
of Lee's army and of the rebellion had come. On the 
29th, Sheridan's buo-les rang out, and his columns mov- 
ing south of the rebel right wing, pushed toward Din- 
widdle Court House, while the Second and Fifth corps 
crossed Gravelly Bun with but slight resistance. On the 
3 1st our lines were united, and advanced toward the 
Boynton plank road. The great battle now commenced, 
and the fighting all this day was most terrific. Crossing 
the Boynton road, Warren moved north to the White 
Oak road ; but when about a mile from it, the rebel col- 
umns came down upon him in one overpowering charge. 
iVyres catches it first, and is driven back ; Crawford, who 
advances to the rescue, shares the same fate, and last 
the impetuous Griffin, s>veeping forward to stem the tide, 
is unable to stand its fury, and the whole line is driven 
back to the Boynton plank i"oad. This success left the 
enemy at leisure to turn upon Sheridan, coming in on 



114 LIEUTENANT-GENERAL GRANT. 

the left, forcing him back also. For a short time the 
prospect looked gloomy ; but Sheridan, bringing up 
Custer and Merritt, drove back the rebels ; the Fifth 
corps reformed, and advancing, regained its lost ground. 
Grant, informed of every movement, now put the Fifth 
corps under Sheridan. The latter at once set to work vig- 
orously to carry out Grant's great plan, thus temporarily 
checked. On the 1st of April he moved upon the Five 
Forks, and a desperate battle followed. He outdid him- 
self on this day, pouring infantry and cavalry forward 
with an impetuosity that nothing could resist. The 
ground was strewn with the dead, but the place was 
carried, and the portion of the rebel army holding it cut 
off from Petersburg, and sent, broken and shattered, west- 
ward, out of harm's way. The capture of this point was 
the sio-nal for a oeneral advance alono; the lines, ' Before 

O O CD 

daylight on Sunday morning, the Sixth, Second, and 
Twenty-fourth corps started for the Southside Railroad, 
now directly in their front. It was reached through a 
storm of fire, and torn up ; then, in a grand wheel to 
the right, the army, moving back around Petersburg, 
came down on the rebel works in rear. The right 
stormed Fort Mahon and captured it. This will not do 
— the mighty line of defence, costing so much time and 
labor, is crumbling to atoms. The impetuous Hill re- 
storms the fort — a bloody hand-to-hand fight follows — he 
succeeds — our brave troops are about to yield, when the 
Sixth corps, on its grand wheel, is seen approaching oi. 
tbe flank. A loud shout goes up ; Hill falls, struggling 
desperately to retain the victory just within his grasp ; 
the rebels flee, and the fort is ours. Grant's splendid 
army now lay in the rear of the rebel works, and the 
game was up. That Sunday's fighting solved the prob- 



CAPTURE OF RICHMOND. 115 

lem. Davis, at church in E-ichmond, heard the news, 
and, Nebuchadnezzar-like, saw the handwriting on the 
wall. Hastily packing up his trunk, he left the capital. 
That night Petersburg and Richmond were both evacu- 
ated. Lee started his army on a rapid march for Dan- 
ville, hoping to get south and join Johnston, now con- 
fronting Sherman, near Raleigh. Weitzel, with the col- 
ored troops stationed on the north side of the James, 
marched into the rebel capital, ran up the old flag, and 
saluted it with cannon and music. The news spread 
Uke wildfire over the land, till the electric wires quivered 
with joy, and one loud shout rocked the north. The 
doors of Libby prison were thrown open, only to close 
again on rebel captives. 

Now commenced a race between Lee's and Grant's 
armies — the former marching swiftly along the north 
bank of the Appomattox, and the latter the south side, 
both heading for Burke's Station, fifty-three miles from 
Petersburg, where the Southside and Danville Railroads 
intersect. If we reached it first, Lee's chances of escape 
were well nigh hopeless, and he knew it. But Grant had 
the inside track. From the Rapidan to Richmond, a 
year before, Lee had it. Matters were reversed now, 
and Grant was not the general to let this advantage be 
lost ; so the two armies strained forward, Sheridan all the 
while harassing the rebel flank. Lee's army marched 
for life, ours for victory. Our army, by putting forth 
herculean efibrts, marching as wearied men never marched 
before, reached it first, and Lee was cut off from Danville 
by that route. On Thursday afternoon, with the assist- 
ance of the Fifth and Sixth corps, Sheridan completely 
cut off and captured Ewell's entire column of nine thou- 
sand men, seven general officers, fifteen field-pieces of ar 



116 LIEUTENANT-GENERAL GRANT. 

tiller}-, twenty-nine battle-flags, and six miles of wagon- 
trains. 

After reaching Burkesville, Gen. Meade, witli the 
greater portion of the Army of the Potomac, took up the 
pursuit on the north side of the railroad, while Sheridan's 
cavalry and Ord's Twenty-fourth corps moved rapidly 
along the south side of the road, Sheridan being con- 
stantly on Lee's flanks, frequently compelling him to halt 
and form line of battle, and as often engaging him, cut- 
ting off detachments, picking up stragglers, capturing 
cannon without immber, and demoralizing the enemy at 
every stand. On Friday, at Farmville, sixteen miles 
west of Burkesville, a considerable engagement occurred, 
in which the Second corps participated largely and 
suffered some loss. Lee, however, was compelled to con- 
tinue his retreat. At High Bridge, over the Appo- 
mattox, Lee again crossed to the north side of the river, 
and two of our regiments, the Fifty-fourth Pennsylvania 
and One Hundred and Twenty-third Ohio, Avhich were 
sent there to hold the bridge, were captured by a strong- 
rebel cavalry force. The railroad bridge at this point, a 
very high and long structure, was burned b}^ the enemy. 
" Lee now headed directly for Lynchburg, in the hope of 
reaching a point where he could move around the front 
of our left wing, and escape toward Danville by a road 
which runs directly south from a point about twenty- 
miles east of Lynchburg. But Grant was too vigorous — 
the pursuit was too hot. Lee's rear and flanks were so 
sorely pressed that he was compelled to skirmish nearly 
every step, and to destroy or abandon an immense amount 
of property, Avhile Sheridan was rapidly shooting ahead 
of him. The position, therefore, on Sunday morning, 
was one from which Lee could not possibly extricate 



CORRESPONDENCE. 



117 



himself." " His army lay massed a short distance west of 
Appomattox Court House ; his last avenue of escape to- 
ward Danville on the southwest was gone ; he was com- 
pletely hemmed in ; Meade was in his rear on the east 
and on his right flank north of Appomattox Court House ; 
Sheridan had headed him off completely, by getting be- 
tween him and Lynchburg ; Gen. Ord was on the south 
of the Court House, near the railroad ; the troops were in 
the most enthusiastic spirits, and the rebel army was 
doomed. Lee's last effort to escape was made on Sunday 
morning, by attempting to cut his way through Sheri- 
dan's lines, but it totally failed." 

Grant, now seeing that Lee's escape was hopeless, sent 
him the following note, under a flag of truce, which re- 
sulted in the correspondence given below : 

April 7, 1866. 

General R. E. Lee^ Commanding G. 8. A. 

Geneea-l : The result of the last week must couvince you of the hope- 
lessness of further resistance on the part of the Army of Northern Virginia 
in this struggle. I feel that it is so, and regard it as my duty to shift from 
myself the responsibility of any further etfusion of blood, by asking of you 
the surrender of that portion of the Confederate States Army, known as the 
Army of Norihern Virginia. 

Very respectfully, 

Your obedient servant, 

U. S. Grant, 
Lieutenant-General, Commanding Armies of the United States. 



April 7, 1865. 

General: I have received your note of this date. 

Though not entirely of the opinion you express, of the hopelessness of fur- 
tlier resistance on the part of the Army of Northern Virginia, I reciprocate 
your desire to avoid useless elFusion of blood, and therefore, before con- 
sidering your )n-oposition, ask the terms you will offer, on condition of itt, 
turrender. 

R. E. Lee, General. 
To Lieutenant General U. S. Grant, Commanding Armies of the United 
States. 



118 LIEUTENANT-GENERAL GRANT. 

Atbii. 8, 1866. 

To General R. E. Lee, Commanding C. S. A. 

Genekal: Your note of last evening, in reply to mine of same date, 
asking the conditions on which I will accept the surrender of the Army of 
Northern Virginia, is just received. 

In reply, I would say that peace heing my first desire, there is but one 
condition that I insist upon, viz. : 

That the men surrendered shall be disqualified for taking up arms against 
the Government of the United States until properly exchanged. 

I will meet you, or designate officers to meet any officers you may name, 
for the same purpose, at any point agreeable to you, for the purpose of 
arranging definitely the terms upon which the surrender of the Army of 
Northern Virginia will be received. 

Very respectfully, 

Your obedient servant, 

U. S. Grant, 
Lieutenant-General, Commanding Annies of the United States. 



April 8, 1865. 

General: I received, at a late hour, your note of to-day, in answer to 
mine of yesterday. 

I did not intend to projxise tlie sui-render of the Army of Northern 
Virginia, but to ask the terms of your proposition. To be frank, I do not 
think the emergency has arisen to call for the surrender. 

But as the restoration of peace should he the sole object of all, I desire to 
know whether your proposals would tend to that end. 

1 cannot, therefore, meet you with a view to surrender the army of 
Northern Virginia; but as far as your ^iroposition may affect the Covfederate 
States forces nnder my command, and. tend to the restoration of peace, 1 
should be [)leased to meet you at 10 a. m. to-morrow, on the old stage-road 
to Eichmond, between the picket-lines of the two armies. 
Very re-pectfully, 

Your obedient servant, 

E. E, Lee, General C. S. A. 



April 9, 1866. 

General R. E. Lee, Commanding G. 8. A. 

General: Your note of yesterday is received. As I have no authority 
to treat on the subject of peace, the meeting proposed for 10 a. m. to-day 
could lead to no good. I will state, however, General, that / am equally 
anxious for peace with yourself; and the whole North entertain the same 
feeling. T7ie terms upon which peace can he had are well understood. By thi 



LEE SURRENDERS. 119 

South, laying down their arms, they will hasten that most desirable event, save 
thousands of human lives, and hundreds of millions of property not y(' 
destroyed. 

Sincerely lioping that all our difficulties may be settled tcithout the loss 
of another life, I subscribe myself, 

Very respectfully, 

Your obedient servant, 

U. S. Grant, 
Lieutenant-General United States Army. 



Sunday, April 9, 1865. 

General: I received your note of this morning, on the picket-line, 
whither I had come to meet you, and ascertain definitely what terms were 
embraced in your proposition of yesterday with reference to the surrender 
of this array. 

I now request an interview in accordance with the offer contained in 
your letter of yesterday for that purpose. 

Very respectfully, 

Your obedient servant, 

R. E. Lee, General. 
To Lieutenant-General Grant, Commanding United States Armies. 



Sunday, April 9, 1865. 

General JR. E. Lee, Commanding G. S. A. 

Your note of this date is but this moment, 11:50 a. m. received. 
In consequence of my having parsed from the Richmond and Lynchburg 
road to the Farmville and Lynchburg road, I am at this writing about four 
miles west of Walter's church, and will push forward to the front for the 
purpose of meeting you. 

Notice sent to me, on this road, where you wish the interview to take 
place, will meet me. 

Very respectfully. 

Your obedient servant, 

U. S. Grant, Lieutenant-General. 



Appomattox Court House, April 9, 1865. 

General R. E. Lee, Commanding C. S. A. 

In accordance with the substance of my letters to you of the 8th inst., I 
propose to receive the surrender of the Army of Northern Virginia on the 
following terms, to wit: 

Rolls of all the officers and men to be made in duplicate, one copy to be 



120 LIEUTENANT-GENERAL GRANT. 

given to an officer designated by me, the other to be retained by such 
officers as you may designate. 

The officers to give their individual paroles not to take arms against 
the Government of the United States until properly exchanged, and each 
company or regimental commander sign a like parole for the men of their 
commands. 

The arms, artillery, and public property to be packed and stacked and 
turned over to the officers appointed by me to receive them. 

This will not embrace the side-arms of the officers, nor their private 
horses or baggage. 

This done, EACH OFFICER AND MAN WILL BE ALLOWED TO 
RETURN TO THEIR HOMES, not to be disturbed by United States 
authority so long as they observe their parole and the laws in force where 
they reside. 

Very respectfully, 

U. S. Grant, Lieutenant- General. 



HEADarARTERS, ARMT OF NORTHERN VIRGINIA, ) 

April 9, 18C5. f 

Lieutenant- General U. 8. Ch'ant^ Commandmg U. 8. A. 

General: I have received your letter of this date, CONTAINING THE 
TERMS OF SURRENDER OF THE ARMY OF NORTHERN VIRGINIA, 
as proposed by you. As they are substantially the same as those expressed 
in your letter of the 8th inst., THEY ARE ACCEPTED. I will proceed to 
designate the proper officers to carry the stipulations into effect. 

Very respectfully, 

Your obedient servant, 

R. E. Lee, General. 



Upon the reception of this letter, Grant hastened to 
the front, where Lee was awaiting him. The two met in 
the parlor of a neighboring brick house, and saluted each 
other with dignified courtesy. Lee presented his sword, 
which Grant received, and after contemplating it a mo- 
ment, handed back, saying, " it could not be worn by a 
braver man." The scene was one of intense interest. 
The younger, the victor, stood there backed by a million 
of soldiers ; the elder, vanquished, had but the fragment 
of a disheartened army left him. Long years before, 



LENIENT TERMS. 121 

they had fought side by side under the same dear old 
dag ; for the last year they had confronted each other as 
foes, and struggled to overthrow each other on many a 
desperately contested battle-field. At their behest, men 
by tens of thousands had crowded the portals of deatli, 
and the track behind each was a long pathway of blood. 
The earth had groaned under the weight of their artillery, 
and the battle-shouts of their brave armies had shaken 
the heavens. Well-matched, neither for a long year had 
been able to wring decided success from the other. And 
now they stood face to face. What memories must have 
crowded upon them — what different prospects opened 
before them ! 

Lee at once acknowledged the lenient terms of the 
surrender, and proposed to leave all the details to General 
Grant. In speaking of the phrase, "personal effects," 
Lee asked an explanation of it, saying that many of his 
cavalrymen owned their own horses. Grant replied that 
they must be turned over to the government. Lee ad- 
mitted the correctness of the interpretation, when Grant 
said that he would instruct his officers to let those men 
who owned their horses retain them, as they would need 
them to till their farms. 

The rebel army had scattered very much within the 
last few days, to say nothing of the killed and captured ; 
so that not more than 20,000 or 25,000 men were pres- 
ent to lay down their arms. 

A more eventful Sunday than this to the nation 
never passed, and could it have everywhere been known 
what was transpiring that afternoon, the gentle chime of 
hells, calling the congregations to the house of prayer, 
would have been changed to a wild and deafening clamor. 

The next day the two generals met on an eminence 



122 LIEUTENANT-GENERAL GRANT. 

in full view of the rebel army, and conversed for nearly 
an hour on the future prospects of the country, and the 
best mode of restoring unity, harmony, and prosperity. 

When the news reached Johnston and Sherman, an 
armistice was agreed on between them, the terms of 
which not being approved by the Government, Grant was 
sent do^vn to arrange matters. The same terms which 
had been granted Lee were offered and accepted by the 
former commander, and the rebellion was ended. 

The mighty structure, which for four years had with- 
stood the colossal power of the North, and attracted to it 
the eyes of the civilized world, suddenly dissolved, like a 
fabric of mist, and was straightway seen no more. 

Grant now became the great man of the nation, and 
the chief soldier of the age. The nation delighted to do 
him honor, and shouts and acclamations attended his 
footsteps wherever he moved. Smoking his cigar with 
the nonchalance that he was wont to do in the wild- 
est shock of battle, he received the adulation of the people 
with the same apparent indifference he had the volleys of 
his foes, and, without being made dizzy by the pinnacle 
Dn which he suddenly found himself standing, seemed 
pleased only that his country was once more at peace. 

After the war was over Grant exhibited the same 
well-balanced character amid the fierce and warring pas- 
sions of men chat he did io the strife and tumult of 
battle. He shared with President Lincoln in that free- 
dom from bitter animosity to the South, for the untold 
evils it had brought ol the country, which so many in 
and out of power felt. Not that he felt less the fear- 
ful crime that had been committed, or was less shocked 
at its results, but that he was too great and noble to 
live iu the foul atmosphere of revenge and hate, and 



HIS KINDLY FEELINGS TO THE SOUTH. 123 

was too far-seeing a statesman, and too pure a patriot, 
not to deprecate continued animosity and wider separa- 
tion. He felt that if South and North were ever a2:ain 
to form a Union, a union in reality and not in name, 
by-gones must be by-gones, so far as the common safety 
and justice would permit. Had President Lincoln 
lived, there is no doubt but that they would have 
moved in perfect harmony and accord in the work of 
reconstruction. But the tragical death of the President 
turned the kind feelings of too many in the North into 
gall and wormwood ; for in their grief and passion they 
forgot to be just, and the act of one madman was con- 
strued as the act of the entire South. Grant, though 
no one was more shocked and grieved than he, showed 
that superiority to surrounding influences that made 
him always so calm and self-poised in the heat of con- 
flict — even when every thing was tossing in wreck and 
ruin around him. 

In this respect he is one of the most remarkable men 
in history. Though possessing a kind heart, the con- 
tagion of sympathy, or passion, like the panic of officers 
and men in battle, never warped his clear judgment or 
prevented his seeing the right. 

When Secretary Stanton demanded that General 
Lee should be tried for high treason. Grant, to Stan- 
ton's astonishment and aj^ger, calmly replied that he 
should not. He had given his word as commander-in- 
chief at his surrender, that he should not be molested, 
and that promise should stand. 

Of course, a man so prominent as he, could not re- 
main out of political life however much he disliked it 
and its crooked ways. His first experience in it in- 
creased his natural distaste for it. Appointed Secretary 



124 LIEUTENANT-GENERAL GRANT. 

of War, in place of Stanton, lie got involved in a quar- 
rel with Johnson, the President, and his cabinet, in 
which Grant was accused of falsehood. It created a 
good deal of commotion at the time, but the idea that 
a man, who was trnth and straightforwardness itself, 
could stoop even to prevarication was too absurd to be 
entertained seriously. 

As Johnson's term drew to a close, all eyes were 
turned towards Grant as the only one who could safely 
conduct the ship of state through the troublous times 
before it. But the difficulty was to find out to what 
party he belonged. Leading politicians sounded him, 
but he persistently refused to talk politics. He 
said he did not wish the presidency. He knew that 
the annoyances, vexations and trials to which it would 
subject him, would be infinitely greater than those of 
the camp and battle-field. Besides the term of ofiice 
was of short duration, while that of Lieiitenant-General 
would not only be far pleasanter, but woukl endure for 
his lifetime. He said, moreover, if lie should accept the 
office, it would be from the same motive that prompted 
him to accept command in the army — to serve his 
country. The position, high or low, was of secondary 
consequence — he must see first how he could be of 
benefit to the country in occupying it. If a few lead- 
ers expected him to be a jnere machine, the wires of 
which they could pull, they grievously misunderstood 
his character. His main views he never concealed. 
His platform was broad as his character. The restora- 
tion of the Union to peace and prosperity was its foun- 
dation. How pitiful do mere factions appear when 
contrasted with this single-hearted, lofty patriotism. 
He eventually became the candidate of the Republican 



HIS VIEWS OF RECONSTRUCTION. 125 

party and was triumphantly elected. No President of 
this republic, or probably of any other, ever went into 
power under more trying circumstances, or entered on 
a more difficult task than he. On the other hand, there 
was no man in the nation more fitted to meet both 
successfully. The bitter hatred that still existed be- 
tween the great mass of the people North and South, 
the almost equally bitter hatred that divided the two 
great parties North, rendered it impossible for him, or 
any other President, to please all, and a strictly just 
and patriotic course was the only one to pursue, and 
clamorous complaints, and abusive epithets never moved 
him from his high and steadfast purpose. 

The reconstruction of the Union and the getting the 
wheels of a disordered Grovernment moving regularly 
presented great difficulties, but he steadily surmounted 
them, and the four years of his presidential term closed 
so successfully that he was re-elected for a second term. 
He entered on it under auspicious circumstances and 
closed it successfully. His last advice to Congress, as 
he left the presidential chair forever, was noble and 
patriotic. He advised it to ignore the past in its legis- 
lation, and recommended a general amnesty to the South. 
He advised, also, the States to provide common schools 
for all its youths and children, and that the attendance 
on them be compulsory, feeling that ignorance is one 
of the greatest dangers to the stability of the republic. 
He said, too, that no sectarianism should be taught in 
them. He said, moreover, that those who, after 1890, 
cannot read and write should be denied the right of 
suffrage. That miserable sophism, the abstract right 
of suffrage of every man, he repudiated, knowing that 
intelligence alone could bestow that right, and that 



126 LEEUTENANT-GENEEAL GRANT. 

intelligence and virtue are the only safeguards of the 
republic. 

A proper understanding of the circumstances which 
sun^ounded him, and the obstacles that met him at every 
step in the path he desired to pursue, will never be fairly 
appreciated until this generation has passed away, and 
one uninfluenced by the passions and party prejudices 
of the present has taken its place. That he sometimes 
erred in judgment, and made grave mistakes, it would 
be foolish to deny, unless we say he was more than 
human. Great men almost invariably have strong and 
positive characteristics, which designing, selfish, un- 
scrupulous men often use to their own benefit. Jack- 
son's attachment to his friends, and hatred of his ene- 
mies, were well known, so that with his peculiarly obsti- 
nate will, if either the one or the other could be secured, 
the object sought for was certain to be obtained. 

At the close of his second presi(l.ential term, he felt 
the need of relaxation, and, to secure this and at the 
same time gratify a long-cherished desire, determined 
to visit the Old World. He had well earned a long 
holiday, and when the Government was made ac- 
quainted with his determination, in consideration of 
his high services and position, it placed the Indiana, a 
national vessel, at his disposal. Other Presidents had 
visited Europe, out only as American citizens. Al- 
though General Grant was nothing more than one, yet 
being sent out in a national vessel, it gave him a repre- 
sentative character, while his fame as a great military 
leader, who had brought to a successful close one of 
the most stupendous civil wars the world had ever 
seen, gave him a prominence that no other American 



GENERAL GRANT'S TOUR AROUND THE WORLD. 

Map of the route. 




He left Philadelphia, May 17, IHTT. Keturning, arrived in Chicago, November lH, 1879. 



128 LIEUTENANT-GENERAL GRANT. 

He left his native shore amid the acclamations of 
the people and the thunder of cannon, and was received 
on that of England, by the shouts of the assembled 
thousands gathered to welcome him. He was given 
the freedom of the City of London, and was invited 
by the Queen to Windsor Castle. He now in turn 
visited every capital in Europe even going far up into 
Lapland. Banquets, and honors, and military reviews 
were given him. He then started for the East. The 
same honors awaited him there, and palaces w^ere put 
at his disposal wherever he went. His counsel was 
sought by emperors on vexed questions, and he was 
looked up to with respect and veneration never before 
accorded to a stranger. 

At length, in August, 1879, Grrant embarked at Yoko- 
hama for San Francisco. The city at once made prep- 
arations to receive him with all the pomp and displa}^ 
in its power. When the dark plume of smoke from 
the funnel of the ship, Tokio, arose over the distant 
ocean, the bells were set ringing, and the multitudes 
gathered on the heights and walls to watch the ap- 
proaching vessel, and as she neared the port, swarmed 
in uncounted thousands to the dock to welcome him 
with shouts and acclamations. Never has a man, in 
modern times, been so feted and honored as he was in 
that and the neighboring cities. His return Eastward 
was one ovation, crowned by a greater one at Philadel- 
phia, after he' arrived on the Atlantic seaboard. 

During the winter and spring of 1878 he made a 
tour of the South and the tropics via Cuba and Mexico ; 
returning, he settled down in New York. Having failed 
to receive the nomination for President for a third term, 
he entered into partnership with the house of Fish & 



HIS TRIP AROUND THE WORLD. 129 

Ward, which proved the greatest calamity of his life. 
They turned out to be unscrupulous swindlers, and soon 
went down with a crash, carrying General Grant and all 
his fortune with them, and, for a time, tarnishing his 
good name. But it was soon ascertained that he was the 
victim of a vile conspiracy and not one of the conspirators. 
Reduced to poverty he set about to redeem his for- 
tune. He had been to Mexico on railroad business, and, 
for a time, it was thought he would be President of 
the Nicaragua Canal Company, in which he took a 
deep interest. But at last he settled down to the work 
of writing his memoirs. But on June 2d, 1884, a slight 
event took place, which changed the whole current of 
his life. While eating some fruit in his cottage at 
Long Branch he felt a lump in his throat which caused 
him pain in swallowing. This, at last, turned out to 
be a cancer in his throat. Although the most dis- 
tinguished physicians attended him, and at times held 
out hopes of a cure, it was plain they did not indulge 
the belief themselves. 

There were rallies, and relapses, and hopes, and fears, 
till finally despair filled all hearts, and it was plain the 
great chieftain was a doomed man. He worked stead- 
ily, however, on his memoirs, though sometimes it 
looked as though he never would live to finish his 
work. Letters of sympathy poured in, not only fi-om 
every part of his own country, but from monarchs 
r.nd distinguished men in Europe. Never in the full 
blaze of his military renown did he seem so great as 
now, as with the meekness and docility of a child he 
bowed to the decree of heaven. His old pastor. Dr. 
Newman, was summoned from California to his bed- 
side and remained with him to console and pray with 



130 LIEUTENAT^T-GENEEAL GRANT. 

him, as with a sweet and forgiving spirit he calmly 
prepared for his departure. One night, after a dav of 
great suifering, the doctor said, " What parting word 
shall I take to-night to give to the public for you ?" 
" Say," feebly replied the sufferer, " that I desire the 
good- will of all, whether heretofore my friends or not. 
Is that enough ? " " Yes," replied the doctor. Stand- 
ing, as he believed, on the brink of the grave, his great 
and forgiving heart, like that of his Divine Master, felt 
at that solemn hour only kindness toward those who 
had wounded him deepest. 

The summer heat in the city weakening him very 
much, he was removed to Drexel Cottage, on Mount 
McGregor, near Saratoga. The high, pure air revived 
him at first and he was able to see a few visitors. 
Among these was his old opponent. General Buckner, 
who surrendered to him at Fort Donelson. The con- 
versation on Grant's part was carried on with paper 
and pencil. The interview was confidential, but the 
following sentiment was so noble and patriotic that 
Buckner felt it should be given to the world : " I have 
witnessed since my sickness," Gen. Grant wrote, " just 
what I have wished to see ever since the war — harmony 
and good feeling between the sections. I have al- 
ways contended that if there had been nobody left 
but the soldiers we should have had peace in a year. 

and ■ are the only two that I know of who do 

not seem to be satisfied on the Southern side. We 
have seen some on ours who failed to accomplish as 
much as they wished, or who did not get warmed up 
to the fight until it was all over, who have not had 
quite full satisfaction. The great majority, too, of 
those who did not go into the war have long since 



HIS SICKNESS. 131 

grown tired of the long controversy. We may now 
well look forward to a perpetual peace at home and a 
national strength that will screen us against any foreign 
complications." 

Grant wished to talk of his approaching death and 
give some directions as to what he wished to be done 
after he was g-one. But his family refused to talk with 
him on the subject, and broke down so completely 
when he referred to it that he at length gave it up and 
communed only with his God on the solemn event. 
But on the 16th of July — a hot day — he wrote on a 
slip of paper to Doctor Douglas : " I feel sorry at the 
prospect of living through the summer and fall in the 
condition I am in. I do not think I can ; but I may. 
But I am losing strength." The doctor endeavored to 
cheer him up by saying the appearance of his throat 
was very much improved. The suffering man, in re- 
ply, wrote the following on a slip of paper : 

" After all that, how^ever, the disease is still there, 
and must be fatal in the end. My life is precious, of 
course, to my family, and would be to me if I could 
recover entirely. There never was one more willing 
to go than I. I know that most people have first one 
and then another little thing to fix up, and never get 
quite through. This was partially my case. I first 
wanted so many days to work on my book, so the au- 
thorship would be clearly mine. It was graciously 
granted to me after being apparently much lower than 
since, and with a capacity to do more work than I ever 
did in the same time. My work had been done so 
hastily that much was left out, and I did it all over 
from the crossing of the James River, in 1864, to Ap- 
pomattox, in 1865. Since that I have added as much 



182 LIEUTENANT-GENERAL GEANT. 

as fifty pages to the book, I should think. There is 
nothing more to do, and, therefore, T am not likely to 
be more ready to go than at this moment." 

From this time on little change took place, and he 
slowly sunk away and July 23d. 1885, he breathed 
his last, with his weeping family standing around his 
bedside. Amid the tolling of bells along the Hudson 
River, his body was borne to New York City, where 
for two days it lay in state in the City Hall, and a 
quarter of a million of people were supposed to have 
marched sadly by his coffin. On the day of the funeral 
Dean Farrar conducted memorial services in Westminster 
Abbey — an honoi- never before paid to an American. His 
body was entombed at Riverside Park, and the proces- 
sion that accompanied it to its last resting-place was 
six miles long. But one of the most impressive sights 
was that of General Johnston, his old enemy on the 
battle-field, with Buckner and General Lee, who so 
often had fiung himself on General Grant's firm-set 
ranks ; and, last, the Virginia troops, clad in their old 
Confederate gray, and carrying their old hostile flag, 
riddled with Union bullets, now draped in mourning — 
following sadly their great conqueror to his tomb. 

It was nearly five o'clock when the grave was 
reached, and the sun was stooping to the western hori- 
zon as they silently, sadly laid him in it. Then " Put 
out the lights," the last strains of the bugle that tell 
the army the day's work is over and the time for retir- 
ing has come, was played. The guns from the fleet 
lying off shore on the Hudson fired a farewell salute 
that echoed mournfully away over the water, and the 
scene was ended, and the old hero " left alone in his 
glory." 



HIS CHARACTER. 133 

A magnificent monument is to be erected on the 
spot, 122d Street, New York, in full view of the Hud- 
son and the millions that pass up and down its shores 
and channel. 

HIS CHARACTER. 

It is more difficult to analyze the mental than the 
moral character of Grant. Indeed, he seems to have 
had no peculiarly striking qualities, so evenly balanced 
was his whole character. He was not a man of genius, 
like Sherman, who dared to strike out a new military 
system, demolish old established theories, and, like 
the First Napoleon, introduce new military maxims. 
He was rather a man of great military talent, doing 
things not so much in a different way from other gen- 
erals, as with different 'power. Amid all his splendid 
achievements, we cannot recall one which indicates any 
particular genius, except his march fiora Grrand Gulf to 
Vicksburg. This swift, marvellous campaign was equal 
to the young Napoleon's first campaign in Italy, which 
gave him his fame. Military annals can furnish nothing 
superior to it in boldness of design, skilfulness of com- 
bination, and amazing rapidity and success of execution. 

Grant's whole mental nature was sluggish. It is 
said that when he kept store, it was hard to make him 
leave his seat to wait on a customer. But this sluggish- 
ness was not indolence, as his career abundantly testi- 
fies. There are some men in this world possessing im- 
mense mental power, who yet, from mere inertness, 
pass through life with poor success. Lighter natures 
outstrip them in the race for wealth or position, and 
the strength they really possess is never known, be- 
cause it has never been called out. It never is called 
out by ordinary events. They were made for great 



134 LIEUTENANT-GENERAL GEANT. 

emergencies, and if these do not arise, they seem almost 
made in vaiu ; at least these extraordinary powers ap- 
pear to be given them in vain. Grant was one of those. 
He was like a great wheel, on which mere rills of water 
may drop for ever without moving it, or if they succeed 
in disturbing its equilibrium, only make it accomplish 
a partial revolution. It needs *an immense body of 
water to make it roll, and then it revolves with a 
'power and majesty that awes the beholder. No slight 
obstructions then can arrest its mighty sweep. Acquir- 
ing momentum with each revolution, it crushes to atoms 
everything thrust before it to check its motion. 

This was the kind of sluggishness which character- 
ized Grant — the sluggishness of great weight which 
always takes a great force to move, but whose activity, 
when once set in motion, is something fearful to con- 
template. 

As a military man, he showed a remarkable power 
in one respect that has hardly been commented upon — 
the power of handling large armies. Napoleon denied 
that more than one or two generals besides himself in 
all Europe, could manoeuvre a hundred thousand men on 
the field of battle. Grant did more than this, and the 
manner in which he handled the Army of the Potomac 
on the route from the Rapidan to Richmond was more 
astonishing than the winning of a great battle. The 
way he swung it from Spottsylvania to the North Anna, 
without having his flank crushed in, and from thence to 
the Pamunkey, and, last of all, from the Chickahominy, 
for fifty miles, across the James, right from under the 
nose of the enemy, and yet never be attacked, showed 
a capacity in wielding enormous forces possessed by 
few men in the world. 



HIS CHARACTER. 135 

His moral qualities lay more on the surface, and 
could be appreciated by all. He was grand here, as in 
his mental organization. Noble in his generosity, he 
was often kinder to his subordinates than they were to 
themselves. Gentle to his foes when conquered, he 
subdued them by his kindness after they had yielded 
to his arms. Envious of none, and apparently devoid 
of ambition, he had labored with the single desire to 
serve his country and vindicate her flag. 

No man of modern times arose from so insignificant 
a position to so lofty a one in so short a period, and 
yet there was not a word or an act that showed it dis- 
turbed the equipoise of his character. We regard this 
as more remarkable than his military success. We are 
told that " he that ruleth his spirit is greater than he 
that taketh a city." General Grant showed that he 
could do this. Taking cities is not an uncommon ex- 
ploit ; but this thorough control of one's self, under the 
most unfavorable circumstances, is little short of a 
miracle. He was not betrayed into a foolish word or 
act, nor did he exhibit a revengeful spirit towards his 
enemies. He never sought promotion, indulged in no 
recriminations under slanderous charges, nor used his 
power to humble an enemy. Disliking public ovations, 
he submitted to them with a simpleness of manner that 
added an inexpressible charm to his character. Though 
so far above the people, he felt as one of them, and wore 
his honors as but few of our poor fallen race can wear 
them. It was these qualities, that, though so undemon- 
strative himself, made him universally beloved. 



CHAPTER VT. 

MAJOR-GENERAL WILLIAM TECUMSEH SHERMAN 

SHERMAN AND GRANT— SHERMAN'S NATIVITY AND EARLY LIFE — ADOPTED 

BY MR. EWING SENT TO WEST POINT — MADE SECOND LIEUTENANT IN 

THE THIRD ARTILLERY AND SENT TO FLORIDA — STATIONED AT PORT 
MOULTRIE, SOUTH CAROLINA — SENT TO CALIFORNIA — RESIGNS HIS COM- 
MISSION AND BECOMES PRESIDENT OP A BANKING-HOUSE IN SAN FRAN- 
CISCO — MADE PRESIDENT OF THE LOUISIANA STATE MILITARY ACADEMY 
— SEEING WAR INEVITABLE, RESIGNS HIS PLACE IN A NOBLE LETTER — 
VISITS WASHINGTON, AND IS ASTOUNDED AT THE APATHY THERE — GIVES 
THE PRESIDENT AND SECRETARY OP WAR HIS VIEWS, WHICH ONLY 

CREATE A SMILE — MADE COLONEL AND FIGHTS AT BULL RUN MADE 

BRIGADIER OF VOLUNTEERS AND SENT TO KENTUCKY — INTERVIEW WITH 
THE SECRETARY OF WAR AND AD JUT ANT -GENERAL — ANECDOTE OF HIM 
— PRONOUNCED CRAZY — RELIEVED PROM COMMAND AND SENT TO JEF- 
FERSON BARRACKS— COMMANDS A DIVISION AT SHn.OH — SAVES THE 
BATTLE — THE FIRST TO ENTER CORINTH — TAKES HOLLY SPRINGS — COM- 
MANDS AT MEMPHIS — HIS ATTACK ON VICKSBURG — ARKANSAS POST — 
PULL ACCOUNT OF THE PART HE TOOK IN GRANT's CAMPAIGN AGAINST 
VICKSBURG — ORDERED TO CHATTANOOGA — DEATH OP HIS BOY, WHOM 
THE THIRTEENTH REGIMENT HAD ADOPTED AS A PET, AND ELECTED 
SERGEANT — TOUCHING LETTER TO THE REGIMENT. 

Sherman and Grant will always occupy a prominent 
place in our history, not merely because they were great 
generals, but because their last campaigns, though sepa- 
rated by a vast interval, yet, working to one common end, 
closed the struggle. For a year, their movements en- 
grossed the thoughts and anxiety of the nation, and in 
the end they stood together, the two grand central figures 



ADOPTED BY THOMAS EWING. 137 

on the stage of action. Linked together, as the com- 
manders of our two great armies, they move together to- 
ward a central point, and reaching it, stand up on their 
field of final triumph, the centre of attraction to the 
civilized world. So, linked together, they will go down, 
side by side, to immortality. 

William Tecumseh Sherman was born in Lancaster, 
Fairfield county, Ohio, on the 8th day of February, 
1820, and hence was only forty- tour years of age at the 
commencement of the war. His father being an ad- 
mirer of the great Indian Chief, Tecumseh, gave him that 
name. Three years after Tecumseh's birth, the father was 
elected Judge of the Superior Court of Ohio, and held this 
position till his death, in 1829. He was suddenly taken 
ill while on the Bench, and died away from home, a vic- 
tim to the cholera. William, at this time, was only nine 
years of age, and one of eleven children left to the care 
of the widow. The Hon. Thomas Ewing, a friend of 
the father, proposed to adopt William as his son, and 
provide for his education and entrance into active life. 
His proposal was accepted, and placing him in the acad- 
emy of the place, lie kept him at school until sixteen ; 
when he sent him to West Point Military Academy. He 
graduated four years after, in 1840, the sixth of his class, 
and entered the service as second lieutenant of the Third 
Artillery. Being ordered to Florida, he served there till 
next year. In November, he was made first lieutenant, 
and afterward stationed at Fort Moultrie, South Caro- 
lina. In 1846, he was sent to California, where he re- 
mained on duty during the Mexican War, and rose to 
the rank of captain. In 1850, he was married in Wash- 
ton to the eldest daughter of his benefactor, to whom he 
had been attached from his schoolboy days. Three years 



138 MAJOR-GENERAL SHERMAN. 

after, in 1853, becoming tired of a profession that cod 
sisted in a mere monotonous round of unvarying duties, 
he resigned his commission, and was made President of 
the Banking House of Lucas, Turner & Co., San Fran- 
cisco. He remained here for several years ; but in 1860, 
being offered the Presidency of the Louisiana State 
Military Academy at Alexandria, with a salary of five 
thousand dollars a year, he accepted it, and remained in 
that position till the breaking out of the war, or, rather, 
till he saw that war was inevitable. In January, previous 
to the attack on Sumter, he sent in his resignation, with 
the following noble letter, which shows the wonderful 
forecast which afterward caused him to be denounced 
as crazy, but which made him the great general he was. 

G&v. Thomas 0'' Moore. 

Baton Eougb, La. 

Sie: As I occupy a quasi-military position under this State, I deem it 
proper to acquaint you that I accepted such a position when Louisiana was 
a State in the Union, and when the motto of the Seminary was inserted in 
marble over the main door : — " By the liberality of the Oovernment of the 
United States — The Union^ Esto Pei'petua.'''' 

Recent events foreshadow a great change, and it becomes all men to 
c-hoose. If Louisiana withdraws from the Federal Union, I prefer to main- 
tain my allegiance to the old Constitution as long as a fragment of it sur- 
vives, and my longer stay here would be wrong in every sense of the word. 
In that event, I beg you will send or appoint some authorized agent to take 
charge of the arms and munitions of war here belonging to the State, or 
direct me what disposition shall be made of them. 

And, furthermore, as President of the Board of Supervisors, I beg you to 
take imrnediate steps to relieve me, as Superintendent, the moment the State 
determines to secede ; for on no earthly account will I do any act, or think 
any thought, hostile to, or in defiance of, the old (government of the United 
States. 

With great respect, &c., 

W. T. Sheeman. 

The closing sentence of this letter is worthy of being 
written in gold on the front of the national capitol. 



INTERVIEW WITH THE PRESIDENT. 139 

His resignation being accepted, lie went to St. Louis, 
and, just before the attack on Fort Sumter, repaired to 
Washington,* and had an interview with the President 
and Secretary of War. He laid before them, plainly, his 
views, at which they smiled, evidently regarding him as a 
very patriotic, but excitable, imaginative, man — one who 
had lived so long at the south that he had imbibed its 
extravagant notions. The President still clung- to the in- 
fatuated idea to which he gave utterance while on the 
way to Washington to be inaugurated, that it was an 
" artificial excitement," and said jocularly, in reply to 
Sherman's earnest representations, " We shan't need 
many men like you, the whole affair will soon blow 
over."" , 

Sherman was completely astounded at the apparent 
ignorance and incredulity of the Government as to the real 
state of affairs, and declared openly that those in authority 
were sleeping on a volcano that would soon open unex- 
pectedly beneath them. With his great forecast, he per- 
ceived a struggle impending, the like of which the world 
had never seen — nay, he already saw the ragged edges of 
the thundei'-cloud above the horizon, which soon was to 
darken all the land, and deluge it with fire and storm. 
Filled with such vie^vs, and alarmed at the apathy around 
him, he addressed a letter to Secretary Cameron, in which 
he said that, as he was educated at the expense of the 
United States, and owed everything to his country, he 
had come on to tender his military services, and declared, 
in solemn language, that war was inevitable, and that he 
(the Secretary) was unprepared for it. 

The fall of Sumter finally convinced the Government 
that " the storm " threatened to be a little too boisterous 
while " blowing over," and it called for 75,000 three months' 



140 MAJOR-GENERAL SHERMAN. 

men, Sherman's friends now urged him to go home to 
01 do and superintend the organization of the troops. He 
j'ejected the proposition with scorn, replying that he did 
not believe in such trifling expedients. " Why," said he, 
in his abrupt, proud way, "you might as well undertake 
to extinguish the flames of a burning building with a 
squirt-gun, as to put down this rebellion with three 
months' troops." When asked what course ought to be 
adopted — " Organize," said he, " for a gigantic war at 
once ; call out the whole military power of the country, 
and with an overwhelming, irresistible force, strangle the 
rebellion in its very birth." 

In the army that soon began to gather at Washing- 
ton, Slierman's friends, knowing his ability, wished him 
to have an important command ; but he replied, " I do 
not wish a prominent place — this is to be a long and 
bloody war." As mountain summits catch the sunlight 
long before it reaches the valleys below, so great men are 
illuminated by a wisdom that comes to ordinary mortals 
only with time. Had Sherman been invested with su- 
preme power at this time, the monster that attained such 
a oioantic o-rowth would have been stranoied in its in- 
fancy. 

McDowell, in organizing his army for the advance on 
Manassas, was anxious to secure his services, and he re- 
ceived the appointment of colonel in the regular army, 
and was assigned to the command of the Thirteenth In- 
fantry. In the battle of Bull Run, that followed, he 
commanded a brigade (the Third) in Tylers division, 
which held the position in front of the Stone Bridge, 
while Hunter and Heintzleman were making their wide 
flank movement to the right. When they, pressing up 
their success, came lown the further bank of the stream, 



BULL RUN. 141 

opposite to him, he crossed over, and effected a junction 
with Hunter's division. He arrived just in time, for, as 
his four regiments rose over a hill, he saw that Burnside 
was nearly overpowered by the enemy. Moving swiftly 
forward, he poured in a close and murderous volley, and 
held his brave regulars firmly to their work. Says Burn- 
side, " It was Sherman's brigade that arrived at about 
half-past twelve, and, by a most deadly fire, assisted in 
breaking the enemy's lines." How Sherman fought in 
this first great battle of the rebellion may be inferred 
from the fact, that two-thirds of the loss in the division 
fell on his single brigade, while it was over a fifth of that 
in the whole army. 

The member of Consjress from Ohio now uro-ed his 
promotion, and on the 3d of August he was made Brig- 
adier-General of Volunteers. When Anderson was sent 
to Kentucky to take charge of the department south of 
the Ohio, Sherman was made his second in command, and 
despatched by him with seven thousand men — volunteers 
and home guards — to occupy Muldraugh's Hill, an im- 
portant point south of the Boiling Fork (Salt Biver). 
While on the way, he made the home guards a speech, 
telling them of the necessity for their services, and pro- 
posed to muster them into the United States' service for 
thirty days. To this they demurred, as they were with- 
out tents and haversacks, and mostly without blankets. 
At this Sherman grew angry, and abruptly told them 
they were a "paltry set of fellows." Chagrined at this 
accusation they, on the spot, voted him a "gruff old 
cock." But finding that, for a time at least, they had got 
to be under his command, they declared that he was a 
"bitter pill" to swallow, and at once changed his title 
into "old pills." They finally consented to be mustered 



142 MAJOR-GENERAL SHERMAN. 

in for fifteen days, which so mollified Sherman that he 
immediately promised them tents, blankets, and every- 
thing necessary for their comfort. This at once changed 
the feelings of the guard, and one of them, in high glee, 
exclaiming that " old pills " was sugar-coated, his title 
was immediately changed to " old sugar-coated," and by 
that name he continued to be called till he left the depart- 
ment. 

At the expiration of their term, the home guards left 
him, and he found himself with only five thousand men 
in a disloyal section, opposed to Buckner with twenty-five 
thousand. 

Anderson now resigning on account of ill health, 
Sherman assumed supreme command. He at once asked 
for reinforcements, and at the same time employed every 
artifice to conceal his real weakness from the enemy. 
But the correspondents of the press, in various ways, 
without intending to do so, counteracted his efforts, and 
often exposed the very things he wished to be kept secret. 
This so exasperated him, that he issued a stringent order, 
excluding all reporters and writers for the press from his 
lines. This was considered a high-handed proceeding, 
and brought down on him a storm of abuse from every 
side. 

At this time, the New York Associated Press through- 
out the country was employed by the Government in trans- 
mitting its cipher messages. Hence, Sherman visited 
frequently the oflice of its agent, in Louisville, where he 
would often remain till three o'clock in the morning, so 
absorbed in thought that he would not reply to even a 
direct question. 

Only some ten thousand men had been sent into Ken- 
tucky, and he urged the Government so persistently for 




EN ROUTE TO THE FRONT. 



PRONOUNCED CRAZY. 143 

more troops, saying that his position was a perilous one, 
tliat the Secretary of War and Adjutant-General Thomas 
were sent to Louisville to investigate the condition of af 
fairs. In an interview at the Gait House, Sherman made 
a clear statement of the condition of affairs, declaring that 
reinforcements must at once be sent him. Said he, " My 
'brces are too small for an advance, too small to hold the 
important positions in the State against an advance of the 
enemy, and altogether too large to be sacrificed in detail.'' 
" Well," they inquired, " how many men do you need to 
•drive the enemy out of the State ? " " Sixty thousand," 
promptly replieH Sherman. " And how many for final 
success in the valley ? " " Two hundred thousand." The 
Secretary and Adjutant-General laughed outright at the 
declaration, saying that it was absurd, for no such force 
could be given him. "Then," replied Sherman, "you 
had better abandon Kentucky altogether, and not endan 
ger the army by scattering it, and so leaving it to be over 
whelmed in detail." They opposed this suggestion, and 
proposed to divide the department, placing one column 
under Mitchell to operate against Knoxville, and the 
other under himself against Nashville. To this he would 
not give his consent. On that same evening, still smart- 
ing from the remembrance of this unpleasant interview, 
he visited the room of the agent of the associated press. 
While there, a stranger approached him, and introducing 
himself as a correspondent of a New York paper, asked 
for a pass to proceed through his lines south, Sherman 
bluntly replied that he could not give him one. The man 
insolently retorted, " Well, Secretary Cameron is in the 
city, and I will get one from him." This was too much 
for Sherman in his then irritable mood, and he at once 
ordered him out of his department, saying that he would 



144 MAJOR-GENERAL SHERMAN. 

give him two hours to get away, and if he found him 
within his lines after that time he would hang him as a 
spy. The man concluded not to seek the protection of 
the Secretary of War under the circumstances, and left 
the city by the first train. On reaching Cincinnati, he 
reported, with apparent sincerity, that Sherman was 
crazy, stark, staring mad. An editor, hearing of the in- 
terview between Sherman and the Secretary of War, got 
this man to write up a report of it, who did so, and en- 
deavored to prove that Sherman was unquestionably in- 
sane. In this manner, the story of his lunacy got afloat, 
which chagrined him deeply, and he gave utterances to 
his indignation in bitter terms. A few such madmen at 
the head of the government at that time would have 
saved the nation hundreds of thousands of lives, and a 
national debt that lies like an incubus upon it. 

Soon after the Adjutant-Gen eral's official report of 
this interview, giving more information to the enemy than 
all the correspondents of the land could do, of his weak- 
ness and position, got into print, which so disgusted him, 
that he asked to be relieved. His request was granted, 
and Buell put in his place. That he was " crazy," was 
now an accepted fact, and he was sent to Jefferson bar- 
racks, where it was not expected that his moon-struck 
theories could do any harm. There is an old proverb, 
that there is a " special providence for children and fools." 
In looking over the management of the government at the 
outset of the rebellion, it seems that the same special, 
providence alone saved us fi'om ruin. To all appearance, 
Sherman was now laid aside for the war. 

But a different sort of man from the Secretary of 
War was now to be thrown in contact with him. Grant 
could appreciate such an officer as Sherman and the 



AT PITTSBURG LANDING. 145 

manner in Avhich the latter forwarded him supplies when 
he moved on Fort Donelson, revealed his capacity, so that 
afterward, when he took position at Pittsburg Lauding, 
the latter was placed in command, of the Fifth Division. 

In the bloody battle that followed, he showed what 
the peculiar type of his lunacy was. He rose at once to 
the peril of that occasion, and all day long moved like a 
fabled god over the disastrous field. Clinging to his 
position till the last moment, lighting as he retired, his 
orders flying like lightning in every direction, and he 
himself galloping incessantly through the hottest fire ; 
now rallying his men, now planting a battery, he seemed 
omnipresent, and to bear a charmed life. Horse after 
horse sunk under him; he himself was struck again and 
again ; and yet he not. only kept the field, but blazed like 
a meteor over it. At noon of that Sabbath day, he was 
dismounted, his hand in a sling, and bleeding, giving 
directions to his chief of artillery, while it Avas one inces- 
sant crasli and roar all around him. Suddenly he saw to 
the riglit, his men giving way before a cloud of rebels. " I 
was looking for that," he exclaimed. The next moment 
the batteiy he had been placing in position opened, send- 
ing death and destruction into the close-packed ranks. 
The rebel commande]-, glancing at the battery, ordered 
the cavalry to charge it. Seeing them coming down, 
Sherman (piickly ordered up two companies of infantry, 
which, pouring in a deadly volley, sent them to the right 
about with empty saddles. The onset was arrested, and 
our troops rallied with renewed courage. Thus he acted 
all that fearful Sabbath day. As Sheridan was the rock 
that saved Rosecrans at Stone river, and Thomas the one 
that saved him at Chickamauga, so Sherman was the rock 

that saved Grant at Shiloh. At its e4ose, his old legion met 
10 



146 MAJOR-GENERAL SHERMAN. 

him, and sent up three cheers at the sight of his well 
remembered form. Rousseau, in speaking of his conduct 
in this battle, said, " No man living could surpass him." 
General Nelson, a few days before his death, remarked, 
" During eight hours, the fate of the army on the field of 
Shiloh depended on the life of one man; if General 
Sherman had fallen, the army would have been captured 
or destroyed." Grant said, "To his individual eftbrts, I 
am indebted for the success of that battle ;" and Halleck, 
in his despatch, bore this unqualified testimony: "It is 
the unanimous opinion here, that Brigadier-General W. 
T. Sherman saved the fortunes of the day on the 6th of 
April." " He was a strong man in the high places of the 
field, and hope shone in him like a pillar of fire when it had 
gone out in all other men." The next day, when Buelfs 
fresh battalions took the field, Sherman again k'd his 
battered regiments into the fight, and enacted over again 
the heroic deeds of the day before ; for as Rousseau said, 
he "fights by the week." Untiring to the last, he pushed 
out the third day, after the victory, and whipped the 
enem)''s cavalry, taking a large supply of ammunition. 

In the subsequent advance to Corinth, his division 
bore the most conspicuous part, and was the first to enter 
the deserted works of the enemy. In the mean time he 
had been promoted to Major-General of Volunteers. 

He could now laugh at the slander that had so an- 
noyed him, and joke of it publicly. There were two 
General Shermans in the army before Corinth, the only 
difference in their names being a transposition of the 
initials W. T. and T. W. T. W. Avas known as the Port 
Royal Sherman, on account of his operations there after 
the capture of the place by Dupont. He was a very 
unpopular man with his troops, on account of a ti*etfiil 



ASSAULTS VICKSBURG. 147 

peevish disposition, exhibiting itself not only in words, 
but in a disagreeable, nervous manner. He was equally 
unpopular with the officers, who discussed his peculiari- 
ties freely. One day. General W. T. Sherman was call 
ing on Steadman, when some one gave a ludicrous account 
of the behavior of T. W. Sherman on a certain occasion, 
which created a great deal of merriment. Sherman join- 
ed in it, and jokingly remarked, " Oh, that is the crazy 
Sherman, is it?" 

On the 20th of June, he advanced and took Holly 
Springs, and broke up the Mississippi Central railroad. 
Memphis falling into our possession. Grant placed him in 
command of it, and he, by his energetic manner, put a 
stop to the contraband trade with the rebels South, and 
almost wholly cleared, for the time being, his district of 
guerillas. 

Early in the winter. Grant organized his first expedi- 
tion against Vicksburg. His plan was for Sherman to 
go down the Mississippi, plant himself suddenly before 
the fortifications, and carry them by assault; while he 
himself, proceeding inland by railroad, should move with 
equal suddenness on Jackson, some forty miles or more 
back of Vicksburg, and prevent the rebel army there from 
reinforcing the latter place. 

On the 20th of December, with four picked divisions, 
Sherman, in a vast fleet of steamers, set sail for his place 
of destination. Determined that it should be no Red 
River cotton expedition, he issued an order at the start, 
declaring it was purely of a military character, and he 
would allow no private interests to be mixed up with it. 
" No citizen, male or female," he said, " would be allowed 
to accompany it, unless employed as part of a crew or 
servants to the transports. No person whatever, citizen, 



148 MAJOR-GENERAL SHERMAN.' 

officer, or sutler, will on any consideration buy or deal in 
cotton, or other produce of the country." At the same 
time, he declared that any one making reports for publi- 
cation would be treated as a spy. 

He, however, had hardly got afloat down the river, 
when the shameful surrender of Holly Springs brought 
Grant to a halt, and thus allowed the enemy to increase 
the garrison of Vicksburg to any strength desired. 

Sherman, ignorant of this, kept on, and disembark- 
ing on the 26th and 27th of December, near the mouth 
of the Yazoo, at once ordered a general advance on the 
city, and drove the enemy to his inner lines. For two 
days he now pressed the place at different points, and on 
the 29th made a grand assault upon it. The troops be- 
haved with great gallantry, charging desperately over 
bayous, through fallen timber, across ditches filled with 
water, and through abattis, and driving the enemy from 
his rifle pits at the bottom of the hill on which the city 
lay. Blair s brigade, especially, covered itself with glory, 
losing nearly a third of its entire number. But it was 
of no use ; it was a slaughter of brave men without re- 
sults, and Sherman, sending in a flag of truce asking per- 
mission to bury his dead, abandoned the undertaking, 
and finally re-embarked his troops. McClernand now ar- 
rived, and took chief command ; and dividing the army 
into two corps, with Sherman commanding one, proceeded 
up the Arkansas River to take Arkansas Post. 

What the condition of things and prospects of success 
were at the time this expedition against Vicksburg was 
undertaken it is impossible to say, but looking at it in the 
light of after events, it seems to have been an ill-judged 
afikir. Whether Sherman really believed when he made 
the assault there was any reasonable chance of success, or 



COMMANDS A CORPS. 149 

whether it was risked because he felt that tl e effect of re- 
tiring without making the attempt would be worse than 
failure, we have no means of knowing. But we strongl}; 
suspect the latter was the ruling motive. 

In announcing the fact of his being superseded, Sher- 
man exhorted his troops to give the same cheerful obe- 
dience to their new commander that they had to him ; 
and, alluding to their failure to take Vicksburg, said, 
" Ours was but a part of a combined movement, in which 
others were to assist. We were in time ; unforeseen con- 
tingencies must have delayed the others.*" Seven days 
after, the army and navy combined captured Arkansas 
Post, with seven thousand prisoners and all its guns. 

Grant now commenced his great and eventually suc- 
cessful expedition against Vicksburg, in which Sherman 
commanded the Fifteenth Army Corj3s. 

The main army lay comparatively idle during the long 
weeks that the gunboats were attempting, by inland navi- 
gation, through canals, bayous and narrow streams, to 
get in rear of the stronghold. 

But in the last attempt through Yazoo Pass, Sherman, 
with a land force, acted in concert with Porter s fleet. It 
was well he did, for the Admiral, after days of unprece- 
dented toil, carrying his boats along narrow water courses, 
where no craft larger than a row boat was ever before 
seen, at length got within a few miles of the Yazoo 
and open sailing, when the enemy, by felling trees across 
the stream before and behind him, threatened to shut him 
up entirely in the wilderness, and thus secure the destruc- 
tion of the fleet. In this dilemma he attempted to force 
his way back ; but sharpshooters lined the banks, and 
the number of the enemy constantly increased, while he 
could hear nothing of Sherman's brigade, that was toil- 



150 MAJOR-GENERAL SHERMAN. 

ing forward, swallowed up somewhere in the woods and 
swamps. The latter, however, heard the heavy firing 
north of him, and guided by the sound, pushed on till a1 
length the head of his weary column stood on the tangled 
banks of the sluggish stream. A shout went up at the 
dad sight, and Porter said : " I do not know when I felt 
more pleased to see that gallant officer, for without great 
loss we could not have performed the arduous work of 
clearing out the obstructions." If Sherman could have 
arrived two days sooner, the fleet would doubtless have 
reached the Yazoo, and Vicksburg been taken in a very 
different way than it eventually was. 

When Grant finally took the bold resolution of run- 
ning the rebel batteries with his gunboats and transports 
to meet his army below, marching inland, Sherman's corps 
was left behind, at first to wait for the completion of the 
roads, and then to make a feint on Haynes' Bluff*, while 
Grant, with McClernand's corps, attacked Grand Gulf 
This was for the purpose of preventing Pemberton at 
Vicksburg from sending reinforcements to the latter }>lace. 
Sherman, embarking his troops on transports, and ac- 
companied by the gunboats, proceeded at once to the 
scene of his former discomfiture, and on the 29th of April, 
stood in battle array before the place, while the gunboats 
kept up a fierce bombardment upon it. He continued to 
manoeuvre before it day after da}-, until a messenger ar. 
rived from Grant, announcing the fall of Grand Gulf, 
and directing him to hurry forward with his corps and 
join him at that place. Ke-embarking his troops, he set 
sail for Young's Point, and next morning started across 
the country. In three days, over horrible roads, he 
reached Hard Times, opposite Grand Gulf, a distance of 
sixty-thi-ee miles. That night and next day he crossed 



SWIFT MARCHING. 151 

the Mississippi, and the day after, May 8th, marched 
eighteen miles to Hankinson's Ferry, on the Big Black. 
Grant was already on the move for Jackson. Pushing 
on, he approached the latter place in a torrent of 
rain, just in time to hear the thunder of McPherson s 
guns in the advance, as he was charging the enemy. 
After the capture of the capital he was left there to de- 
stroy the public property, while the rest of the army 
wheeled back towards Vicksburg. 

On the morning of the IGth, be received a message 
from Grant, stating that the enemy was advancing on 
him from Edward's Depot, and directing him to put in 
motion one of his divisions at once, and follow with the 
others as soon as the work of destruction in Jackson was 
complete. Steele's division was hurried off in two hours, 
and two hours later Tuttle's followed on, and before night 
Sherman with his whole corps Was twenty miles from the 
place, pushing on in a forced march to the help of his 
chief This was unparalleled marching, and filled even 
Grant with admiration. Doing; but little of the fio-htino; 
along the Big Black, he pressed forward, and on the 18th 
the head of the column reached the Benton road, and he 
commanded the Yazoo ; interposing a superior force be- 
tween the enemy at Vicksburg and his forts on that river. 
Resting here till the column could close up, and Grant 
arrive, he then extended his lines, till, on the 19 th, they 
rested on the Mississippi, with Vicksburg in plain sight. 
He participated in the grand assault on the 2 2d, losing 
some six hundred men. He continued to hold the light 
during the long siege that followed, carrying his lines 
Mteadily nearer the doomed place. 

Johnston, in the meantime, having concentrated a 
large force at Jackson, at length seriously threatened 



152 MAJOR-GENERAL SHERMAN. 

Grant's rear, and he, having determined to assault Vicks. 
burg on the 6th of July, previously notified Sherman of 
tlie fact, and directed him, if it was successful, to be in 
readiness to march at once and attack the former. The 
place surrendered two days earlier than the date men- 
tioned, but Sherman was all ready to march even then, 
and leaving to others the glory and excitement of march- 
ing into Vicksburg, wheeled about, and passing quickly 
over the intervening space of forty-five miles, suddenly 
confronted the rebel leader in Jackson. The latter, under 
the cover of a dense fog, made a sudden assault on his lines, 
but he could not take this sleepless leader by surprise, and 
being driven back, hastily evacuated the city. Sherman 
now spread devastation on every side, destroying bridges, 
railroads, and other valuable property for miles around. 
In speaking of his conduct. Grant says: "The siege of 
Vicksburg, and last capture of Jackson, and dispersion 
of Johnston's army, entitle General Sherman to more 
credit than usually falls to the lot of one man to earn." 
Thus Providence was brino-ino- these two men closer and 
closer together, and training them for the great work be- 
fore them. ' 
Sherman's army now rested for awhile, but Rose- 
crans' defeat at Chickamauga, in September, by which 
Chattanooga was placed in great peril, caused Grant to 
telegraph the former to despatch a division at once to his 
help. He received it on the 2 2d of September, and by 
four o'clock the division was off. The next day he re- 
ceived another, directing him to follow with his whole 
army. In three days more the army was working its 
slow, tedious way up the Mississippi in transports. The 
water was low, and fuel scarce, and the troops had often 
to land and gather fence rails and haul wood from the in- 



A TOUCHING LETTER. /53 

rerior to keep up steam, so that he did not reach JVJ emphis 
till the beginning of October. 

But while he was fuliillinsr his orders with such alac- 

o 

rity, and pushing on his troops with such energy, his heart 
was heavy with grief. The tread of his victorious col" 
umns, and the flaunting of his proud banners, no longer 
brought light to his eyes, nor awakened the pride of the 
warrior ; for the indomitable spirit of the chieftain had 
sunk before the feelings of a father. His beautiful boy, 
that bore his name, was being wafted mournfully up the 
Mississippi a corpse, in charge of his weeping mother. 
While lying along the pestiferous banks of the Big Black 
Eiver, his wife and family visited him, and one child, in 
the malarious atmosphere, sickened and died. On his 
first arrival in camp, he became a great pet in the Thir- 
teenth Regular Infantry — Sherman's old regiment, that 
he commanded in the battle of Bull Run — wliifli made 
him a sergeant, and heaped on him all those little testi- 
monials of affection, which soldiers know so well how to 
bestow. This kindness had touched Sherman's heart, and 
now at midnight, as he sat in his room at Memphis, and 
thought of his little boy pale and lifeless, far away, floating 
sadly up the Mississippi, this kindness all came back on 
him, and, bowed with grief, he sat down and wrote the 
following touching letter to the regiment : 

Memphis, Tenn., Oct. 4th, Midnight 

Ca2}t. C. C. Smith, Commanding Battalion Thirteenth Infantry : 

My Dear Friend : I cannot sleep to-night till 1 record an expression 
of the deep feelings of ray heart, to you, and to the officers and soldiers of 
the battalion for their kind behaviour to my poor child. I realize that you 
all feel for my family the attacliment of kindred, and I assure you of full 
'•eciprocity. Consistent with a sense of duty to my profession and office, I 
could not leave my post, and sent for my family to come to me in that fatal 
climate, and behold the result I The child that bore my name, and in whose 



154 MAJOR-GENERAL SHERMAN. 

future I reposed with more confidence than I did in my own plar.6 of life, 
now floats a mere corpse, seeking a grave in a distant land, with a weeping 
mother, brother, and sisters clustered around him. But for myself I can ask 
no sympathy. On I must go to meet a soldier's fate, or see my country rise 
superior to all faction, till its flag is adored and respected by ourselves, and 
all the powers of the earth. 

But my poor Willy was, or thought he was, a sergeant of the Thirteenth. 
I have seen his eyes brighten, and his heart beat, as he beheld the battalion 
under arms, and asked me if they were not real soldiers. Child as he was. 
he had the enthusiasm, the pure love of truth, honor, and love of country 
which should animate all soldiers. God only knows why he should die thus 
young. He is dead, but will not be forgotten till those who knew him in 
life have followed him to the same mysterious end. 

Please convey to the battalion my heartfelt thanks, and assure each and 
all, that if in after years they call on me or mine, and mention that they 
were of the Thirteenth regulars, when poor Willy was a sergeant, they will 
have a key to the aifections of my family, tliat will open all that it has — that 
we will share with them our last blanket, our last crust. 
Your friend, 

W. T. Sherman, Maj.-Gen. 

Nothing can be more touching than this letter. How 
It lays open his inmost heart to his soldiers ! Ordinary 
expressions of courtesy or acknowledgments of gratitude 
would not answer. Their sympathy had made them for a 
time his equals, and he writes to them as friends — the 
dearest of friends, because friends of his boy. Their love 
for him had bound them to him by a tenderer chord than 
long and faithful service in the field. Ah, what a heart 
this man, this rough man, as many tvTfmed him, had! 
No man could write that letter, in whose heart did not 
Iwell the gentlest, noblest impulses of oui nature. The 
brave Thirteenth will cherish that ktter AA'hile life lasts, 
and transmit it as an heir-loom to their children. These 
sudden gleams of tenderness and sympathy, shooting 
athwart the stern and turbulent scenes of ^var, like bursts 
of sunshine along a stormy sea, reveal and assert our 
common brotherhood and destiny. 



SERGEANT WILLIE. 155 

The regiment ordered a marble monument for their 
little sergeant, and had inscribed on it, " Our little ser- 
geant, Willie, from the First Battalion Thirteenth United 
States Infantry." 

" In his sinrit there was no guile." 



CHAPTER VII. 

CHATTANOOGA. 

Sherman's maech prom the Mississippi to chai tanooga — his arrivat 
—establishes himself on missionary ridge — the morning before 
the battle— picturesque view — opening of the battle — the vic- 
tory — pursuit — ordered to march north to the relief of knox- 
ville— state of his army — heroic devotion— sherman at vicks- 
burg — the expedition into central mississippi — its object and 
cause op its abandonment — placed over the mississippi depart- 
ment — plans the atlanta campaign — its originality — the number 
and distribution of his forces. 

We cannot follow Sherman in liis lono; inarch of three 
hundred miles or more across the country to Cliattanooga. 
At first he was ordered to repair the railroad as he ad- 
vanced, so as to bring up his supplies, but Grant, who 
had taken command in person at Chattanooga, saw that 
this was slow work, and time pressing, sent word to cut 
loose from the railroads, and living on the country, push 
on as fast as his troops could march. He did so, and on 
the 15th of November, rode into Chattanooga, and was 
wel<;omed with delight by Grant. His army was not yet 
across the Tennessee, and the latter directed him to get 
them over at once, and march them up beyond the place, 
and secure a lodgment on the extremity of Missionary 
Ridge, where it abutted on the river. The troops, foot- 
sore, and many of them shoeless, needed rest after tliis 
long and terrible march, and Sherman knew it. To ask 



ON THE enemy's FLANK. 157 

them at once to go into battle was making a heavy de- 
mand, but the enemy's batteries had been planted in 
shelling distance of the town, and provisions were scarce, 
so that time for rest could not be given. As he rode 
through Grant's encampments, the need of haste was ap- 
parent, and he says: "I saw enough of the condition of 
men and animals in Chattanooga to inspire me with re- 
newed energy." 

In the meantime, directing Swing's division to make 
a demonstration on Lookout Mountain, as ordered by 
Grant, he jumped into a rowboat, and pulling down to 
his army, put it in motion. 

But the roads had become almost impassable with the 
heavy rains, and told heavily on the over-exhausted troops. 
Still, by laboring night and day, Sherman succeeded in 
getting, by the 23d, three divisions up the river, concealed 
behind the hills opposite Chickamauga Creek. At the 
same time, he had concealed one hundred and sixteen 
pontoons, in a stream near by, which, after dark, were 
floated down into the Tennessee, full of soldiers ; and by 
dawn the next day eight thousand men were on the other 
shore, and had thrown up a rifle trench as a tete du pont. 
A bridge thirteen hundred feet long was immediately be- 
gun, and by one o'clock was shaking to the tread of the 
hurrying columns. A drizzling rain was falling at the 
time, which, with the low clouds hanging along the 
heights, concealed the movement. 

By three o'clock the astonished enemy found an army 
hanging along the sides of Missionary Ridge, on his ex- 
treme left. A feeble attempt was made to repel the ad- 
vance, but the artillery, dragged up the steep ascent, scat- 
tered the enemy, and night found Sherman securely 
planted. A second ridge, farther in, was the great point 



158 MAJOR-GENERAL SHERMAN. 

aimed at, and the assault on this was deferred till morn- 
ing light would reveal the rebel position. 

While this was ffoins; on, Hooker had made his gal 
lant assault on Lookout Mountain, and carrying it, open- 
ed his communications direct with Chattanooga. 

Grant now had his army where he wanted it, and de- 
termined the next day to settle the question whether 
Chattanooga was to be held or abandoned. During the 
night it cleared off, and a sharp autumnal frost rendered 
the air of that high region still clearer, and gave a darker 
blue to the deep vault of heaven. The soldiers crowned 
the hills with camp fires, revealing to the enemy their po- 
sition, as well as shoAving to their friends in Chattanooga 
the important point that had been gained. At midnight 
a staff officer of Grant reached Sherman with directions 
to attack at daybreak, saying that Thomas would also at- 
tack "early in the day." Sherman turned in for a short 
nap, but before daylight he was in the saddle, and riding 
the whole length of his lines, examined well his position 
and that of the enemy. By the dim light he saw that a 
valley or gorge lay between him and the next hill, which 
was very steep, and that the farther point was held by the 
enemy with a breastwork of logs and earth in front. A 
still higher hill commanded this with a plunging fire, 
which was also crowded with the foe. He could not see 
the bottom of the gorge below, and was not able to com- 
plete his preparations so as to attack by daylight, as he 
had been ordered. General Corse was to lead the ad- 
vance, and before he had fully marshalled his forces, the 
sun arose in dazzlino; brij^htness over the eastern heio-hts, 

CD a o " 

and flooded the scene with beauty. His beams were sent 
back from tens of thousands of bayonet points, and flash- 
ed athwart loiTg rows of cannon, while the increasing 



ASSAULTS THE ENEMY. 159 

light brought out in a gTand panoramic picture, Chat^ 
tanooga resting quietly below in its amphitheatre of hills. 
Banners waved along the heights, and rose over Grant's 
encamj)ment in the distance, and all was bright and 
beautiful. Here and there a bugle-call and drum-beat 
gave increased interest to the scene. But its beauty was 
soon to change — those summits now baptized in golden 
light were to be wrapped in smoke and heave to volcanic 
tires, and strong columns stagger bleeding along their 
sides. 

Sherman at length being ready. Corse's bugles sounded 
the '4brward," and the assaulting regiments moved stead- 
ily down the hill, across the intervening valle}-, and up 
the opposing slope. Morgan L. Smith on the left of the 
ridge, and Colonel Loomis abreast of the Tunnel, drew a 
portion of the enemy's fire away from the assaulting 
column, which having closed in a death-grapple with the 
foe, now advanced its banners, and now receded, but never 
yielding the position it had at first gained. Grant could 
see the struggle from his position at Chattanooga, and at 
one time observing two brigades give Avay in disorder, 
thought Sherman was repulsed ; but it was not so. Corse, 
Loomis and Smith, stuck to the enemy with a tenacity 
that gave lum.not a moment's rest. Sherman's position 
not only threatened the rebel right fiank, but his rear and 
stores at Chickamauga station ; hence the persistency of 
iiis attack alarmed Bragg, and he steadily accumulated 
forces against him, that rendered an advance on Sher- 
man's })art impossible. Hour after hour the contest 
raged with terrible ferocity, and the flaming cloud-^vrap- 
ped heights appeared to the lookers-on at Chattanooga, 
like a volcano in full fierce action. Grant had told Sher- 
man, that Thomas would attack early in the day, but 



1(J0 MAJOR-GENERAL SHERMAN. 

the latter watched in vain for the movement. The gal 
lant Corse had been borne wounded from the field, and 
Grant, fearful that Sherman was being too heavily press- 
ed, sent over to his help Baird's division ; but Sherman 
sent it back, saying he had all the troops that he wanted. 
Thus, he fought the battle alone all the forenoon, and 
still the banners drooped lazily along their staffs in front 
of Chattanooga. He began to grow impatient. In the 
bright clear air he could look down from his position on 
the " amphitheatre of Chattanooga," but could discern no 
signs of the promised movement. Now and then a soli- 
tary cannon shot alone told that the army there was 
alive ; but beyond, toward Lookout, where Hooker was 
trying to advance, the heavy reverberations of artillery and 
dull sound of musketry showed that he was pushing the 
enemy. Thus matters stood at three o'clock, when, said 
Sherman, " I saw column after column of the enemy 
streaming toward me, gun after gun poured its concentric 
shot on us from every hill and spur that gave a view of 
any part of the ground held by us." The attack of 
Thomas which was to be " early in the day." was unac- 
countably delayed, and what could it all mean, was the 
anxious enquiry he put to himself One thing was 
plain — his exhausted columns could not long stand this 
accumulation of numbers and concentration of artillery. 
Grant, too, was anxious. The appearance of Hooker's 
column, moving north along the ridge on the other flank of 
the enemy, was to be the signal of assault on the centre; 
but hour after hour passed by and no advancing banners 
were seen. The latter had been detained in building a 
bridge across Chattanooga creek. 

At length, he could wait no longer, and hearing that 
Hooker was well advanced, and seeing the centre weak- 



ROUT OF THE ENEMY. 161 

ened, to overthrow Sherman, he ordered the assault to be 
made. Sherman, whose glass was scarcely for a moment 
turned from the centre, now saw with relief a "white lino 
of musketry fire in front of Orchard Knob, extending 
further right and left and on." "We could hear," he 
says, "only a faint echo of sound; but enough was seen 
to satisfy me that General Thomas was moving on the 
centre." That white line of smoke kept advancing, till 
it streaked the mountain side. "At length it disappeared 
behind a spur of the hill, and could be no longer seen, 
and it was not until night closed, that I knew the troops 
in Chattanooga had swept across Missionary Ridge and 
broken the enemy's centre." As soon as he had ascer- 
tained it, his columns were started in pursuit. General 
Morgan L. Smith being ordered to feel the Tunnel, and 
see what force was there ; found it "vacant save by 
the dead and wounded of our own and the enemy's 
commingled." 

The next morning at eleven o'clock, Sherman ap- 
proached the depot to find it a scene of desolation. " Corn- 
meal and corn in huge burning piles, broken wagons, aban- 
doned caissons and guns, burned carriages, pieces of pon- 
toons, and all manner of things burning and broken," at- 
tested the ravages of war. Along the road strewed with 
the wrecks of the fight, he pressed on till night, when just 
as he emerged from a miry swamp, he came upon the en- 
emy's rear guard. A sharp contest followed, but the night 
closed in so dark that he could not move forward. Here 
in the gloom Grant joined him. The next morning he 
continued the pursuit ; but finding the roads filled with 
all the troojos "they could accommodate," he halted and 
turned to the east to break up the communications be- 
tween Bragg, and Longstreet now before Knoxville. 
11 



162 MAJOR-GENERAL SHERMAN. 

Having finished the work assigned him, he was expecting 
rest, when on the 30th, just as he had entered Charleston, 
a letter was handed him from Grant, informing him that 
Burnside was completely invested at Knoxville, and had 
provisions only to last three days longer, and direct- 
ii]g him to move at once to his relief. What! after a 
march of four hundred niiles, and a fierce battle, and days 
of pursuit, now to make a forced march of eighty-four 
miles in winter over a broken country. It was a terrible 
order, and Sherman felt it to be so. " Seven days before," 
says he, "we had left our camp on the other side of the 
Tennessee with two days' rations, without a change of 
clothing, stripped for the fight, with but a single blanket 
or coat per man — from myself to the private. Of course 
we then had no provisions save what we gathered by the 
road, and were ill supplied for such a march. But we 
learned that twelve thousand of our fellow soldiers were 
beleaguered in the mountains of Kjioxville, eighty-four 
miles distant, that they needed relief, and must have it in 
three days. This was enough, and it had to be done." 
Yes, it had to be done; but it was hard that it must be 
done by that weary army. 

Rapidly gathering his forces together, he the next 
day but one, moved rapidly ofi^ toward Loudon, twenty- 
six miles distant. By dark, Howard had reached it; 
but. the bridge was gone, and he was compelled to tui'ii 
east to find a place for crossing. Delay was now inevi- 
table ; but Burnside must have notice, and that in twenty- 
four hours, that he was approaching; so, that night he 
sent forward his aid to Colonel Long, commanding the 
cavalry, to explain the state of afikirs to him, and direct 
him to pick out at once his best men and horses, and 
ride for life till he reached Knoxville. " The roads were 



RELIEF OF BURNSIDE. 163 

villainous;" but before daybreak the gallant Colonel was 
off, and pressing on through mire and wet, across streams 
and over mountains, he the next night reached Knox- 
ville and the clatter ol" his horses' hoofs through" the 
sireets, bore the welcome tidings to Burnside, that Sher- 
man was marching to his relief 

Itie latter diverged to Morgantown, where his maps 
represented the river as shallow enough to be forded, but 
he found the stream chin-deep and the water freezing. A 
bridge, therefore, had to be built, over 1,200 feet long, but 
they had no tools except axes, spades and picks. Gen. 
Wilson, however, went to work, and using the houses of 
the place to make trestles and crib-work, he, by the 
night of the 4th, had a bridge completed. But the next 
night a courier arrived from Burnside, stating that Long- 
street had raised the siege, and was moving off towards 
Virginia. Hearing that Sherman was advancing, he 
abandoned the place just as he thought it was about to fall 
into his hands. Sherman now ordered his tired army to 
halt and rest, and sending on Granger ^vith his two di- 
visions, he himself rode on to Knoxville and inspected 
the fortifications. He then moved his army back to 
Chattanooga by easy marches. 

Sherman might well be proud of the Fifteenth 
corps, and he says, "I must do justice to my com- 
mand for the patience, cheerfulness, and courage which 
officers and men have displayed throughout, in battles, 
on the march, and in camp. For long periods with- 
out regular rations or supplies of any kind they have 
marched through mud and over rocks, sometimes bare- 
footed, without a murmur, without a moment's rest. 
After a march of over four hundred miles without 
stop for three successive nights, we crossed the Tennessee, 



164 MAJOR-GENERAL SHERMAN. 

fought our part of the battle of Chattanooga, pursued the 
enemy out of Tennessee, and then turned more than one 
hundred miles north and compelled Longstreet to raise 
the siege of Knoxville." He says further, " I cainiol 
speak of the Fifteenth Army Corps without a seeming 
vanity, but as I am no longer its commander I assert there 
is no better body of soldiers in America than it, or who 
have done more or better service." This Avas true, and 
Sherman s whole course from the time he had left Mem- 
phis, had been a miracle of marching and fighting and 
endurance. 

In January Sherman was again at Vicksburg. While 
here he wrote a long and able letter on the proper treat- 
ment of disloyal people and a conquered territory, which 
shows that he knew how to handle the pen as well as the 
sword. 

At the close of the month he organized the expedition 
into Central Mississippi, which caused so much excite- 
ment at the time. North and South. It was reported that 
he had destroyed his communications behind him, and 
struck off into the heart of the country, while no one knew 
his destination. 

With about 20,000 infantry and 1,200 cavalry he 
set out from Vicksburg on the 3rd of February, and 
pushing east, crossed the entire State of Mississippi to 
Meridian. Smith, with 8,000 cavalry, was to leave 
Memphis on the 1st, and join him at this place, but he did 
not start till the 11th, and was then defeated and driven 
back. Sherman s design was to cut Mobile off from 
Johnston, who lay in front of Grant, break up Polk's 
army in his own front, and then, if possible, turn down 
on Mobile, at the gates of which Farragut was at 
that time thundering. The deleat of Smith, however, 



THE ATLANTA CAMPAIGN. 165 

broke up this part of the plan ; and he was compelled to 
take his backward march to Vicksburg, which he reach- 
ed in safety. 

His sphere of action was now to be enlarged. Grant 
being appointed Lieutenant-Gen eral in March, the de- 
partment of the Mississippi, composed of the departments 
of the Ohio, CumberLand, Tennessee and Arkansas, was 
given to him. Under him were McPherson, Hooker, 
Thomas, Howard, Hurlbut and Logan, strong men all, 
and forming a group of subordinates, the superior of 
which never gathered under one commander. 

Now the preparations for the two grand movements 
commenced, which were to end in the overthrow of the 
rebellion. Grant, with the Army of the Potomac, was 
to move on Lee and Richmond, and Sherman on John- 
ston and Atlanta. 

The two campaigns, however, as before mentioned, 
were not alike. Grant had not half the distance to go of 
Sherman, and could shift his base at any moment, which 
he did, first to Fredericksburg, then to the Pamunkey 
and finally to the James river. The latter, on the con- 
trary, had a single base, with which he must keep con- 
nected by a solitary line of railroad, with cavalry swarm- 
ing on both flanks, watching to destroy it, and thus secure 
his overthrow. No such deep operations with a large 
army had ever before been attempted, and it was very 
problematical if this one could be successful. At all 
events, it was generally thought that a second army 
would be needed to hold this long line of railway. 

He asked for a hundred thousand men, and two hun- 
dred and fifty pieces of artillery. He started with this 
number, minus twelve hundred, and with two hundred 
and fifty-four pieces of artilleiy. The army was divided 



166 MAJOR-GENERAL SHERMAN. 

as follows : The Army of the Cumberland, under Thomas^ 
was composed of sixty thousand seven hundred and 
seventy-three men, and one hundred and thirty guns; 
Army of the Tennessee, McPherson commanding, twenty- 
four thousand four hundred and sixty-five men, and 
ninety-six guns; Army of the Ohio, Schofield, thirteen 
thousand five hundred and fifty-nine men, and twenty 
eight ffuns. 










MOUND BATTERY NEAR PORT FISHER, N. C. 




INTERIOR VIEW OP PORT FISHER, N. C. 




BATTLEFIELD OP MALVERN HILL, VA. 




MAP OF THE ATALANTA CAMPAIGN 



CHAPTER VIII. 

ATLANTA CAMPAIGN. 
Sherman's foresight in PEEPAErNo for contingencies — flanks dalton — 

BATTLE OF RESAOA — DEFEAT OF THE ENEMY — THE PURSUIT — CAPTURE OF 
ROME — FIGHT AT DALLAS — FLANKING OF ALLATOONA — A SECOND BASE ESTAB- 
LISHED THE KENESAW MOUNTAINS — STRENGTH OF THE POSITION DESPERATB 

ASSAULT OF DEFEAT FLANKING AGAIN RESORTED TO CHATTAHOOCHEE 

EIVER REACHED — VIEW OF THE COUNTET — TEREIBLE ASSAULT ON THOMAS — 
HOOD RETIRES TO HIS INNER WORKS — DESPERATE ATTACK ON MCPHERSON — 
HEAVY REBEL LOSSES — CAPTURE OF STONEMAN — CUTTING THE REBEL LINES 
OF COMMUNICATION — ATTACK ON HOWARD — THE ARMY SWUNG ROUND THE 
CITY TO THE MACON ROAD— FIGHT AT JONESBORO' — ATLANTA EVACUATED — 
DESTRUCTION OF PROPERTY — SLOCUM TAKES POSSESSION — REVIEW OF THE 
CAMPAIGN — GENIUS OF SHERMAN — PURSUIT OF WHEELER, 



By the 1st of May he was ready, waiting the signal 
from over the AUeghanies, nearly a thousand miles away, 
to start. He planned carefully beforehand his move- 
ments, and resorted to ingenious devices to defend his 
communications and flank from Forrest's cavalry. One 
of his methods to protect the railroad in his rear was 
very simple and eftective. The track running south, 
crosses many streams, the bridges over which must be 
preserved at all hazards. Between them the preservation 
of the road was of minor consequence, for a few hours* 
labor could repair all the damage that could be inflicted 
upon it. To secure the bridges without detailing for their 
defence large forces, which would materially weaken his 



170 MAJOR-GENERAL SHERMAN. 

army, he constructed at the head of each one a bombproof 
fortress, or blockhouse, provisioned for a long time, and 
garrisoned with from two to four hundred men, or there- 
abouts, with a few pieces of artillery. Being bombproof^ 
they cpuld not be battered down with cannon, or carried 
by assault, and being provisioned for a long period, they 
could not be reduced by siege, while their guns, sweeping 
the approaches to the bridge, could effectually keep off 
any working parties sent to destroy them. 

On the 6th of May, Johnston lay at or near Dalton, 
with an army 60,000 strong, divided into three corps, 
commanded by Hood, Hardee, and Polk, and 10,000 
cavalry, under Wheeler. 

When the time came to move, Sherman confront- 
ed him ; but seeing the strength of the position and 
the impossibility of carrying it by assault, he resolved to 
turn it, and began that series of brilliant movements 
which gave him the name of the " Great Flanker." Hence, 
while Thomas, with his large army, moved directly from 
Ringgold and drew up in front of the rebel position at 
Dalton, McPherson was sent in a circuitous route of thirty 
or forty miles through Snake Creek Gap to Resaca, 
eighteen miles back of Johnston on the railroad. Thomas, 
in the meantime, pressed the latter so vigorously in front, 
that he could spare no troops to resist McPherson's ad- 
vance, until he was within a mile of Resaca. Finding his 
rear so seriously threatened, he abandoned his strong 
position, and, falling back, gave battle at Resaca. Alter 
several days of more or less severe fighting, one of the 
enemy s strongest positions was carried by assault, and he 
compelled to fall back again, leaving nearly a thousand 
prisoners in our hands and eight guns. Our loss was 
about 5,000 in the engagements that took place here. 



ALLATOONA FLANKED. 171 

Afler the victory, Sherman pushed his army fonvard 
in rapid pursuit — a part hugging closely the rear of the 
enemy — a part moving, by circuitous routes, upon his 
flank — pontooning rivers, crossing ridges and struggling 
along bye-ways and wood roads, threatening or striking 
the astonished Johnston at every available point. In the 
meantime Sherman sent out J. C. Davis' division to seize 
Rome, lying off several miles to the west, who captured its 
forts, guns, mills and foundries. 

On the 18th, after sharp skirmishing and heavy artil- 
lery fighting, he entered Kingston. Here he gave his 
overtasked troops a few days' rest, and spent the time in 
hurrying forward supplies ; as it was of vital importance 
he should accumulate them in advance, in view of the 
possible severance of his communications ; and in re-estab- 
lishing telegraphic connection with Chattanooga. In 
live days the army rose refreshed like a giant from new 
wine, and the infantry, cavalry and artillery swept grand- 
ly on towards Atlanta. Leaving garrisons in Rome and 
Kingston, he took twenty days' provisions in his wagons, 
and started for Dallas. Again he was striking for John- 
ston's rear ; for this cautious, wily commander had taken up 
an impregnable position in the Allatoona Mountains, hop- 
ing that Sherman would dash his army to pieces in trying 
to force it. He had seen enough, however, of the " Great 
Flanker's " tactics not to rely entirely on this, and caused 
sti'ong works to be thrown up in front of the Dallas and 
Marietta railroads. More or less fighting occurred all the 
way, for Johnston hung threateningly on Sherman's front, 
ready to strike whenever an opportunity should ofi:er, and 
disputed with his skirmishers every inch of ground. 
Hooker, to whom was assigned the task of seizmg the 
junction of the railroads at this important point, dro\e 



172 MAJOR-GENERAL SHERMAN. 

the enemy before him till he nearly reached the intrenched 
works, when sudden night and a terrible storm arrested 
his progress. The next three days there was constant 
skirmishing and fightmg, while Sherman was hurrying up 
his troops and developing tlie enemy's lines. Johnston, 
hoping to cripple him before his forces were all in position, 
made a furious assault on McPherson on the 28th ; but, 
after a bloody and desperate struggle, was repulsed with 
the loss of some three thousand. Sherman now paused 
for a few days, and by a series of skilful manoeuvres com- 
pletely befogged Johnston as to his real intentions, and then 
suddenly swung McPherson around on the left. John- 
ston, seeing his rear again threatened, was compelled, in 
rage, to abandon his strong position and fall back. All 
his positions, which had been selected with so much care 
and fortified with great skill, proved utterly worthless in 
the presence of such an antagonist. He might as well 
have retreated at the first, clear to Atlanta, for he neither 
could seriously cripple Sherman's army, cut off his sup- 
plies, nor permanently arrest his progress. He now fell 
back to Kenesa^^ Mountain, a stronger position, if pos- 
sible, than any he had yet occupied. Sherman, in the 
meantime, examined Allatoona Pass, andfindingit was just 
the spot for a secondary base, where he could accumulate 
supplies, and with a small garrison protect them ; at once 
established it, and soon the railroad was emptying abun- 
dant provisions into the camp there. 

Everything being ready — infantry and cavalry well 
up — "forward" was once more sounded from the bugles, 
and on the 9th of June his banners were seen advancing 
along every highway and bye-way, until he was at length 
brought to a halt in front of Kenesaw Mountain. This 
elevation stretched off to the northeast in a range covered 



KENESAW MOUNTAIN. 173 

with chestnut forests, while to the west stood Pine Moun- 
tain, and back of it Lost Mountain. These froMOiing 
natural battlements covered Marietta and the railroad 
back to the Chattahoochee river. Their conical peaks were 
all surmounted with signal stations, from which the signal 
corps could see and telegraph every movement of our 
army. Batteries also lined the summits and sides, while 
every spur was black with men felling trees and digging 
rifle-pits to arrest our progress. Banners waving along the 
summer-crowned heights, long lines of bayonets glisten- 
ing amid the green foliage, bugle calls and the stirring notes 
of the drum coming down on all sides into the valley 
below, made it an inspiring scene. On the 11th Sher- 
man was close up, and as soon as the different corps were 
in their assigned positions he determined to break through 
between Kenesaw and Pine Mountains. The artillery 
was placed in position and a heavy tire was kept up for 
three days. On the 14th, General Bishop Polk was in- 
stantly killed by a cannon shot. The next day Pine Moun- 
tain was found to be abandoned. Thomas and Schotield 
at once advanced, but discovered that the enemy had only 
fallen back to Lost Mountain, between which and Kene- 
saw stretched a long line of strong, skilfully constructed 
breastworks. Still slowly gaining ground at all points — 
now struggling across ravines — now working through 
dense forests of timber, out of which incessantly arose the 
rattle of musketry and smoke of the conflict, Shermtm 
pushed his foe so vigorously, that Johnston was compelled 
to change his position and contract his lines. In so do- 
ing, however, he increased his power of defence immen&(;ly. 
From his high perch on Kenesaw, he could look down 
into Sherman's camps, on which he directed his elevated 
batteries to play, but the shot and shell mostly went over 



174 MAJOR-GENERAL SHERMAN. 

the lie^ds of the soldiers, as they lay close up against the 
base of the mountain. 

For three weeks Sherman tried in every way to 
find a vulnerable point in this stronghold. All this time 
it rained in torrents, until the roads were either water- 
beds or gullies ; and where the rocks did not prevent the 
passage of artillery, the fields were so soft that it could 
not be got across them. 

When Sherman entered on this campaign, he pub- 
lished an order foi^bidding all superfluous baggage, in- 
forming the army that he himself intended moving with- 
out a tent ; and thus far, in dry weather, he had usually 
slept under a tree, and in wet, in any house along the 
route. Here, however, he felt the need of a tent, and 
though it raised the laugh against him, he was glad to ac- 
cept of one from General Logan. 

Early one pleasant morning, a regiment happened to 
be marching on the road near a tree under which Sher- 
man was lying, where he had thrown himself after a hard 
night's toil, for a short nap. One of the men, not re- 
cognizing who it was, and supposing him to be drunk, 
remarked aloud, "That is the way we are commanded — 
officered by drunken Major-Generals." " Not drunk, my 
boy," he good-humoredly remarked, raising his head, " but 
I was up all night, and am very tired and sleepy/' Had a 
thunderbolt di'opped into that regiment, it would not have 
])een more astonished. It passed quietly on, and the General 
lay down again to sleep. Not long after, he rode forward, 
and chanced to pass this regiment on the march. It in- 
stantly recognized him, and sent up loud and hcai'ty cheers. 

While he was working his way slowly up to the en- 
emy's works, " McPherson shoving his left forward, and 
General Thomas swinging, as it were, on a grand left 



GRAND ASSAULT. 175 

wheel, his left on the mountain, connecting with McPher- 
son," and "Schofield to the south and east," Hood sud- 
denly tame out of his works, in one of his usual headlong 
onsets, and fell on a part of Hooker's corps. Everything 
went down before him till he reached Sherman's line of 
battle, ^vhen such an awful fire met him, that he recoiled 
in disorder, and again sought the cover of his works, with 
a loss of seven or eight hundred men. In speaking of 
it, Sherman said : " Although inviting the enemy at all 
times to commit such mistakes, I could not hope for him 
to repeat them, after the examples of Dallas and Kulp 
House," and he therefore resolved to attack in turn. Se- 
lecting the enemy's left centre as the chief point of attack, 
he, on the 24th of June, issued his orders for a grand as- 
sault on the 27th, by McPherson and Thomas. Three 
days' notice was given, in order to allow ample time for 
preparation and reconnoissances. 

On the 27th, at the appointed hour, the signal was 
given, the charge sounded, and these two magnificent di- 
visions moved to the assault. From every spur, from 
out the leafy foliage, from behind rifle-pits and barri- 
cades, from rocky ledges, and down from the top of lofty 
Kenesaw, shot and shell rained in one ceaseless fiery tor- 
rent. But right up to the rebel works the devoted col- 
umns pressed, and all uncovered on the rocky slopes, 
stood and faced the deadly sleet. But over the high and 
bristling works they could not pass. Brave men ad- 
vanced the flag, only to fall beside it. Officers leaped for- 
ward with waving swords to stimulate the men, only to 
sink in their front. Face to face, the one covered, and 
the other m full view, they fought — cannon and musketry, 
mingled with shouts and yells, making a fearful clamor 
there amid the overhanging peaks. But it was vain 



176 MAJOR-GENERAL SHERMAN. 

valor. The gallant Harker, McCook, and Rice, all Gen- 
erals, fell one after another, killed or wounded ; officers 
were being borne thickly to the rear; the ranks were fast 
disappearing, and no foothold gained, and at last the re- 
call was sounded, and the bleeding columns fell sullenly 
back, beaten for the first time. It could hardly be called 
a battle — it was a slaughter — for the enemy, protected by 
their strong works, suffered comparatively but little, while 
three thousand or more of our brave men, scattered over 
the rugged ground, either dead or bleeding, attested how 
unequal the struggle had been. That was a sad night to 
the arni}^, as it gathered up its wounded, and buried the 
dead. 

We are inclined to think the assault was a mistake, 
and should not have been ordered. If so, it was the 
only one Sherman made during this extraordinary cam- 
paign. His reasons for making it are not satisfactory, 
and we suspect, that getting weary of being called the 
everlasting flanker, as though his army could not fight 
a straightforward battle, had more to do with it than any- 
thing else. He says, " all looked to me to outflank." 
" An army to be efficient must not settle down to one 
single mode of offence." In these remarks he unwittingly 
reveals the feeling that ruled him. No one knows better 
than he, that an army should always stick to that mode 
of offense that promises the largest results, with the least 
loss of life. A wise general would steadily outflank for 
forty }'ears, if that was the way to success. There is no 
fcjar that an army, by pursuing for a long time one kind 
of policy which proves successful, will thereby be rendered 
mefiicient in carrying out any other. Nothing makes 
men more effective than victories. It gives them such 
confidence in their leader that they are ready to execute 



THE CHATTAHOOCHEE REACHED. 177 

any command. Nothing is to be feared so much as fail- 
ure. In this case it would have been tar better to have 
stuck to " the single mode of offence," than to fall back to 
it, as he did, after losing three thousand brave men. 

Five days after this unsuccessful assault, McPhersoii 
was thrown rapidly forward to the Chattahoochee river, 
and Johnston, seeing his conmiunications threatened, 
" settled " back to his " single mode " of operations, and 
hastily evacuated his strong position, which he could 
have held for ever against a direct attack. Sherman 
entered Marietta the next day (July 3d) just as John- 
ston's cavalry was leaving it. 

He now hurried forward his columns mth the utmosi 
rapidity, hoping to catch the enemy in the confusion of 
crossing the Chattahoochee. But the wary Johnston had 
guarded against this, and steadily held him at bay until 
his large army, with its artillery and transportation, was 
safely across the river. The next thing, therefore, was 
to get across himself, in the face of the enemy. But 
Johnston, although he was. able in a retreat, was no 
match for "Sherman in resources and strategy. 

The rapid manoeuvres and brilliant movements of the 
latter seemed to bewilder him, and he never knew where 
his agile foe would next strike. He, however, erected a 
strong tete du pont^ and prepared to dispute stubbornly the 
passage of the river. But Schofield, on the 7th, succeeded 
in effecting a lodgment on the opposite bank, and in three 
days Sherman, by threatening now this point, and now 
that, and handling his troops in a masterly maimer, 
secured three good points for passing the river above the 
enemy s tete du pout No sooner did Johnston discover 
this, than, with a sad heart, he ordered a retreat, — and re- 
luctantly giving up his last defensive position between 
12 



178 MAJOR-GENERAL SHERMAN. 

Chattanooga and Atlanta, gloomily fell back to the latter 
place, to be superseded by Hood. 

The Chattahoochee was ours, and one of the great 
objects of the campaign secured. Atlanta was- now only 
eight miles distant, almost within hearing of Sherman's 
morning drum. Marching his army over the river, he 
resolved, before advancing on the place, to give it a short 
rest. Since leaving the mountains, the heat had been 
more oppressive, and the men, wearied by a battle-field 
that stretched a hundred and thirty-five miles or more 
back to Chattanooga, needed repose before entering on 
the desperate conflicts Sherman knew to be close upon 
them. 

From the heights near the river, Atlanta, the " gate 
city," as it was called, could be seen. Its spires and 
domes rose above the tree-tops heav}^ with summer vege- 
tation, and the smoke of the locomotives, drao-oino- trains 
loaded with supplies, showed the lines of railroad running 
into the city from almost every point. The murmur of 
the busy host there could pot reach that distant point, 
but the echo of the morning and evening gun reminded 
the soldiers that a foe was awaiting their approach. 
Officers, and, now and then, privates, climbed these 
heights to look on the surpassingly beautiful landscape 
that stretched away from the base. The winding river, 
now lost in overhanging foliage, as it swept around a 
distant point, and now gleaming out like a silver belt be 
tween the green banks — swelling uplands and smiling 
valleys — broad sweeps of forests, with plantations like 
patches between — cou'ntless roads crossing and recrossing 
the country in every direction, combined to make a scene 
too lovely and tranquil to be disturbed by the rude rav- 
ages of war. 



\SSAULT ON THOMAS. 179 

On the ITth day of July, the bugles sounded "forward'' 
again, and the refreshed army advanced and formed line 
on the Peach Tree road, near Atlanta. The next two 
days wexe employed by McPherson and Schofield in 
swinging around upon the Augusta road, near Decatur, 
Ijdng to the east of the city, thus destroying one line of 
communication to the enemy — that toward Richmond. 
In the meantime, Thomas took his grand army across 
Peach Tree Creek, by several bridges, directly in front of 
the rebel intrenchments. These movements were not 
made without a struggle, and the roar of cannon and the 
rolling fire of musketry showed that every step forward 
was to be gained at the price of blood. 

On the 20th, Hood made his first desperate attempt 
to escape his impending doom by a furious assault on 
Thomas, while his lines were in process of formation. In 
this onset the rebels threw themselves in solid masses 
and with a recklessness of death, wonderful to behold, on 
our hall-formed lines — the living pressing with sublime 
devotion over the dead — struggling hopelessly, madly, 
hour after hour, until 5,000 brave men lay piled on the 
field. Here almost an entire company lay in a heap, 
and there a regiment in line of battle, just as they^ stood 
and took our awful fire. Our loss was only a little 'over 
1,700. Battered and bruised and decimated, the rebel 
army, two days after, abandoned its outer works and fell 
back to its interior position, which was immensely strong. 
Commanding redoubts, with water flowing between them 
to stop an advancing enemy, and impassable chevaux-de- 
frise in front, made a defence over •which no troops could 
be carried but with a loss too fearful to contemplate. 
This ^vithdrawal, however, to his inner position on the 
part of Hood, was not so much from inability to hold 



180 MAJOR-GENERAL SHERMAN. 

his exterior line of intrenchments as from the necessity 
of reducing his garrison, while he massed his army 
against McPherson, sweeping doAvn fi'om Decatur toward 
the city. He tried the same experiment on him that he 
had on Thomas, that is, attacked him before his lines 
were well closed up. The onslaught here was full as 
tierce and terrible and determined as the one two days be- 
fore on Thomas, and, as in that, at first promised success. 
Six times in succession the shouting, maddened foe bore 
down with well-nigh irresistible fury on McPherson's 
lines. At times the hostile ranks were almost com- 
mingled, as in the hand-ta-hand fights of old. The rebels 
fought more like fiends than men, and seemed to court, 
death. But at last, exhausted, wasted and bleeding, the 
assaulting columns gave it up. Over three thousand lay 
dead on our front, mangled, torn and bleeding, while 
the total loss of the enemy was reported by Logan to be 
full twelve thousand. Ours was about the same as 
that two days before; but in the death of McPherson, 
we suffered a greater loss than could be reckoned in 
numbers. 

The next day Garrard, who had been sent with a cav- 
alry force to destroy the Augusta road, returned, having 
successfully accomplished his task. Sherman now turned 
his attention to the Macon road, and sent out Stoneman 
with five thousand cavalry, and McCook with four thousand 
infantry to de.^troy it. Taking different routes, they were 
to meet on the railroad, near Lovejoy's Station, and after 
completing its destruction, Stoneman was to push on, if 
lie deemed it prudent,* to Macon, and release a large num- 
ber of our prisoners known to be confined there. But 
for some reason he did not go to the place of rendezvous 
at all, but marched directly on Macon There he was 



ATTACK OF HOWAPtD. 181 

brought to a halt by the enemy, and in attempting to re- 
treat, was cut off and taken prisoner, together with a 
thousand or more of his command, besides losing a large 
number in killed and wounded. McCook reached the 
point of destination, burned the depot at Lovejoy's and 
live hundred wagons, killed eight hundred mules, and tore 
up the railroad. But while engaged in the work of de- 
struction, he suddenly found himself surrounded by a 
superior force of cavalry and infantry. He, however, 
gallantly cut his way out, though losing some five 
hundred prisoners. On the whole, the movement was a 
sad failure. 

Sherman, having succeeded in destroying the Augusta 
railroad to the east of Atlanta, worked his army slowly 
round to the west side. A railroad runs south from 
Atlanta a few miles to East Point, where it branches off — 
one road running southeast to Macon, and the other 
southwest to Mobile. It will be readily seen that the 
junction of these roads was a very important point to 
seize. Sherman, therefore, while these cavalry raids were 
in progress, endeavored to push his right around Atlanta 
to it. Howard, with the Army of the Tennessee, was 
selected to accomplish this, and began the movement on 
the night of the 26th. Hood, seeing the coils thus steadily 
tio-hteninsi: around him, on the 28th made a third and last 

O CD ' 

desperate assault to break through them. "The enemy," 
says Sherman, "had come out of Atlanta by the Bell's 
Ferry road, and formed his masses in the open fields 
behind a swell of ground, and advanced in parallel lines 
directly against the Fifteenth Corps, expecting to catch 
that flank in air. His advance was magnificent, but 
founded on an error that cost him sadly, for our men 
coolly and deliberate!)' cut down his men ; and m spite of 



182 MAJOR-GENERAL SHERMAN. 

the efforts of the rebel officers, his ranks broke and fled. 
But they were rallied again and again, as often as six times 
at some points, and a few- of the rebel officers and men 
reached our lines of rail piles oidy to be killed or hauled 
over as prisoners." From noon to four oVlock, the enemy 
pushed his attacks, and when he fled, left his dead and 
wounded in our hands. Six thousand was estimated as 
his loss, while ours was less than six hundred. This 
estimate is doubtless too large, for it shows too great a 
disparity. Hood now sullenly retired to his works, and 
suffered Sherman to extend his rioht Avino; at his leisure, 
and he soon closed in and be^an the sieo;e of Atlanta. 
Still his force was not laroje enouo-h to encircle it com 
pletely, without making his lines too thin and assailable, 
and the rebels succeeded in getting sup|)lies by the Macon 
road. It was evident, therefore, that he nmst cither carry 
the place by assault, or destroy this road altogether. He 
had ordered up some heavy guns from Chattanooga, and 
now began to shell the place; but apparently with but 
little eff^ect. An assault was thei*efore ordered on one of 
the points deemed weakest; but was repulsed with a loss 
to us of four hundred men. It was evident that an as- 
sault could not be made with any prospect of success, 
without a loss, which if unsuccessful, would leave him but 
the remnant of an army. But one other course, there- 
fore, now remained to be taken — to sever Atlanta entirely 
from its base of supplies. The occupation of the Macon 
road would do this, and he resolved, wide apart as it 
would separate Ids army, to make the attempt. But on 
maturer reflection, he concluded to try if it could not be 
done with cavalry alone, and the task was assigned to 
Kilpatrick. With a large force the latter succeeded in 
reaching ajid cutting the road ; but this was not enough, 



A GKAND MOVEMENT. 183 

it must be kept broken, and Sherman, therefore, took the 
bold resolution to plant his armies on it. All the surplus 
wagons and baggage not immediately needed, and the 
wounded were sent back to the intrenched position at tht 
bridge, with the Twentieth corps, and on the night of the 
25th, the extraordinary movement commenced. 

Although Hood, while it was in progress, might 
march out of Atlanta on the north, and overwhelm the 
army there, thus cutting it off entirely from its base 
of supplies, he, even in that contingency, would be 
worse off than Sherman — for the former could get no 
supplies from the comparative sterile country in that 
direction, while the latter had the garden of the South to 
forage from. Sherman was aware of this, and knew that 
Hood must and would meet him in battle on or near the 
line of that road, and there settle the fate of Atlanta. The 
Army of the Tennessee reached the West Point railroad, 
leading off toward Mobile, without loss. One day was 
spent in destroying twelve miles of it, and then, on the 
29th, the whole army began to move eastward toward the 
Macon road. The comparative ease with which these 
movements were effected was owing in a great measure to 
the absence of the rebel cavalry. Exasperated by Sherman's 
cavalry raids on his comnumications. Hood resolved to 
practice a similar strategy on his enemy, and. sent off 
Wheeler toward Chattanooga to break up the railroad 
and capture the garrisons in that direction, and thus cut 
him oft' from his base of supplies. This was a fatal mis- 
take, for Sherman had enough provisions accumulated 
this side of that place to last him till he could restore his 
communications. He had formed a second base at Alla- 
toona, and he did not believe the enemy could capture the 
garrison stationed there. 



184 MAJOR-GENERAL SHERMAN. 

With his flanks easily protected, therefore, he march- 
ed deliberately east^vard ; Howard on the right, Thomas, 
OS usual, in the centre, and Schofield on the left. "We 
mil not attempt to describe these splendid movements — 
everything went like clock work, and on the last day of 
the month Howard reached Jonesboro, on the Macon 
road, twenty miles southeast of Atlanta, Thomas farther 
north, at Couch's, and Schofield near Kough-and-Ready, 
still closer to Atlanta. Hood, seeing himself about to be 
caged like a lion, sent out Lee and Hardee to drive 
Thomas back. These two corps fell on the " rock of 
Chickamauga '" ^vith the fury of desperation, but after a 
sanguinary and protracted contest, were driven back with 
the loss of three thousand men. All the columns now 
bore away toward Jonesboro, where Sherman had ordered 
them to be at noon on the 1st day of September, So 
perfectly timed was every movement, that that very after- 
noon everything was in readiness for a general assault, 
and the rebel position there was carried with deafening 
shouts, and a whole brigade with eight guns captured, 
while five thousand killed and wounded were left on the 
field. This settled the fate of Atlanta, and that night 
Hood, dispirited and overwhelmed, began to evacuate it. 
Sending off such provisions only as he could carry in his 
swift retreat, he opened the storehouses of the remainder 
to the citizens. The surplus ammunition was loaded on 
cars, which were run out a little way on the Augusta 
railroad and blown up — the explosion shaking the shores 
of the Chattahoochee river miles away, where the Twen- 
tieth Corps lay, ignorant of what was going on south of 
the city. Six engines, and nearly a hundred cars, were 
gathered together and set on fire, and the torch applied to 
a thousand bales of cotton, which made the midnight hea^/- 



ATLANTA EVACUATED. 185 

ens glow as though a conflagration was raging in the sky 
Lighted on his sorrowful way by such a sea of fire, Hood, 
with the mere remnant of his army, moved swiftly 
across the country toward Macon. The alarmed inhabi- 
tants, in carriages, wagons, and every vehicle that could 
be pressed into service, streamed after, making a scene of 
confusion and wild terror such as war alone can create. 
Slocum, of the Twentieth Corps, seven miles north on the 
Chattahoochee, heard the loud explosions, and saw the 
ruddy heavens, and suspecting the cause, sent out a strong 
column at daybreak to reconnoitre. Atlanta was found 
deserted, and he marched triumphantly in and took pos- 
session. That same morning Sherman moved south to 
catch the retreating army of Hood, but at Lovejoy's, ten 
miles beyond Jonesboro, he found him strongly entrenched 
and abandoning the pursuit, returned to Atlanta. His 
great campaign was ended. 

It is almost impossible to exaggerate the wonderful 
foresight, the skill and genius exhibited in this unparal- 
leled campaign — the foresight which prepared for every 
contingency, not only in securing his long line of com- 
munication, but in providing forage and provisions for 
his splendid army — skill, in the handling of his troops in 
a country seamed with water-courses, broken into moun- 
tains and gorges, and crossed only by the most impracti- 
cable roads, and sometimes rendered impassable by pro- 
tracted storms — the genius which enabled him to break 
away from the established rules of military science, or 
rather introduce a new principle into it, and thus crown 
with triumphant success a campaign which scarcely any 
one but himself believed could be carried out. For 
grandeur of design, depth and skill of combination, it 
stands unrivalled in military history. If the First Nar 



186 MAJOR-GENERAL SHERMAN. 

poleon, by the originality and boldness of his designs, his 
daring and successful departure from old established 
formulas — and going back to the first principles of war, 
built thereon a military system of his own, which en- 
tirely revolutionized the one universally accepted, and by 
his marvellous combinations and rapid movements over- 
whelmed his foes — desei'ves the fame he has won, then 
Sherman, by his daring originality in moving so far from 
his base, yet still acting with mathematical precision and 
certainty, and winning victory, not by good fortune, but 
by profound calculations, merits a place among the fore- 
most generals of the world. This campaign will be a 
study for military men in all future time. He could well 
say, ''''Atlanta is ours^ and fairly ivoiiy The tremendous 
events transpiring at the same time on the Atlantic coast, 
somewhat overshadowed the magnitude and grandeur of 
the movements of this campaign, but they will take their 
place in history beside those of Caesar and Napoleon. 

Sherman, seeing that it would be next to impossible 
to feed the destitute population left in the place, and need- 
ing it solely for a military position, ordered all tlie non- 
combatants to leave, and sent to Hood asking his coopera- 
tion, so that as little distress as possible might be felt by 
them. The latter consented, but characterized the prop- 
osition as barbarous, saying, " It transcends in studied 
and ingenious cruelty all acts ever before brought to my 
attention in the dark history of war." To this Sherman 
replied in a scathing letter, in which the charge of cruelty 
was fastened by stubborn facts on him and his compeers 
in the rebel service.* 

He now gave all the corps, regiments, and batteries 

*See Personal Memoirs. By Gen. W, T. Sherman. 



A NATIONAL SALUTE. 18? 

permission to inscribe Atlanta on their colors, while, by 
order of the President, a national salute was fired at 
every important point at the north, in honor of the great 
victory. 

The correspondence between him and the Mayor of 
the place, on the removal of the inhabitants, will well re- 
pay perusal. 

Wheelers cavalry that started off to break up his 
communications, had now been raiding for several weeks 
in his rear, inflicting considerable damage, and Rousseau, 
Steadman, and Granger, were sent back to attend to him, 
while forces were hurried up from Memphis and Vicks- 
burg to cooperate with them. 




LIBBY PRISON (TOBACCO WAREHOUSK;, RICHMOND, VA. 
Removed to Chicago, 111., 1889, as a Museum of War Relics. 




MILITARY PRISON (CONFEDERATE), SALISBURY, N. C. 




Slocum (left wins.) 

-. Howard (right wins). 



~~ ~.: ~. Cavllry^"'"''''""*'' ^"'P^' ^''«° separated. 
MAP OF SHERMAN'S CAMPAIGN. 
Atlanta to the Sea. 



CHAPTER IX. 

THE GEORGIA CAMPAIGN. 

nOOD ATTEMPTS TO CUT SHERMAN'S COMMUNICATIONS — CORSe's GALLANT 
DEFENCE OP ALLATOONA — PURSUIT OP HOOD — SHERMAN's ORIGINAL AND 
DARING PLAN— BURNING OP ROME — OP ATLANTA — SHERMAN STARTS FOR 
THE ATLANTIC OCEAN— VIEWS RESPECTING THE MOVEMENT — DISPOSI- 
TION OP HIS FORCES AND PLAN OF MOVEMENT — THE LEFT WING UNDER 
SLOCUM — THE RIGHT UNDER HOWARD — KILPATRICK'S CAVALRY — THE 
TWO MARCHES — MACON— MILLEDGEVILLE — SOLDIERS ORGANIZE THE 
LEGISLATURE — NOVEL SCENE — AUGUSTA THREATENED — MILLEN — MARCH 
TO SAVANNAH — PICTURESQUE SCENES IN THE PINE FORESTS — REVIEW OF 
THK MARCH — SAVANNAH REACHED AND INVESTED — STORMING OP FORT 
m'aLLISTER — SHERMAN WITNESSES IT PROM THE TOP OP A RICE MILL — 
6URKBNDER OP SAVANNAH — MAGNITUDE OP THE CAPTURE — HARDEB 
RETREATS TO CHARLESTON — SHERMAN's CHRISTMAS GIFT TO THE PRESI- 
DENT — REVIEW OP THE CAMPAIGN. 

Hood, reinforced by some 40,000 Georgia militia, now 
prepared to put forth a desperate effort to recover his lost 
ground and fame. The fall of Atlanta was a terrible 
bk)w to the Confederacy, and Davis hastened from his 
capital to Georgia to try, by his presence, to raise the 
courage of the people. Loud and bitter curses had been 
hurled against him for putting Hood in Johnston's place. 
Denounced for his incapacity, favoritism and blunders, 
he found it necessary to visit important points in the State 
to arrest the growing desire of the people to abandon the 
struggle and return to the Union. He made frequent 
speeches, in which he departed from his usually dignified 



192 MAJOR-GENERAL SHERMAN. 

manner, and losing his temper or reason, or both, launched 
forth into violent abuse of the Yankees, using language 
that can be accounted for only on the ground of tem- 
porary insanity, caused b}' strong drink. Still, with his 
aid, Hood was able to assemble a formidable army, and 
by the last of September declared himself read}^ to move. 
His plan was to break Sherman's long line of communi- 
cations, and thus compel him to evacuate Atlanta and 
fall back to Chattanooga. Moving with great rapidity, 
hi threw himself upon the railroad in various places, 
breaking it up. This was a bold move ; for, if successful, 
Sherman ^vould be compelled to abandon all he had won. 
But the secondary base at Allatoona now stood the latter 
in good stead. Beyond that, nearly to Dalton, the rebels 
had it all their own way, and during the entire month of 
October, Sherman was cut off from Chattanooga. If 
Allatoona could be taken, Sherman's army would be in 
a perilous position, and to secure its capture a whole 
rebel division was sent against it. French, the com- 
mander, demanded its surrender, giving Corse, who 
held it with but 1,700 men, only a brief space to con- 
sider the terms, and intimating that, if forced to assault, 
no quarter would be sho^v^n. The latter replied, that 
when he should get the place there would be no men left 
to kill. 

Sherman, in the meantime, had gathered up his entire 
army, all but the Twentieth Corps, and was marching 
back over the ground he had so lately traversed, in pursuit 
of Hood. He heard the cannonading that opened the 
attack on Allatoona, and ordering the 'drmy to move for- 
ward at the top of its speed, hastened himself to the high 
top of Kenesaw, overlooking the place, with signal officers, 
to announce to the beleaguered garrison his coming. He 



A THRILLING SCENE 193 

heard the thunder of artillery and saw the smoke of the 
conflict, and also the heavy force which Hood had been 
able to hurl against it, and fle^v his signal. But Corse 
was too busy with the enemy to notice it. Sherman saw 
that his fire was rapid and steady, and said, "I know- 
Corse, he will hold it as long as he li^-es." Still he 
could not be certain of his life. 

The odds against the garrison were fearful ; but if the 
former could only know that strong columns were moving 
swiftly to his relief, all would be well. Again his signal 
flew, and but the roar of guns replied. Nothing but the 
national banner waved over the works, and still the fight 
went on ; Sherman grew anxious. Oh, lor a voice or 
trumpet-call that could reach that garrison, or that some 
eye would look above the sulphurous cloud to that clear 
height where he stood! 

A few hundred asrainst six thousand could not hold out 

o 

for ever. In overwhelming numbers the enemy came on, 
assault following assault in quick succession — fresh troops 
being constantly hurled against exhausted ones. Thus, 
from early dawn, hour after hour, the fight raged, till at 
last the feeble garrison was driven fi:'oin the intrenchments 
to the hill. The shouting foe pressed after and stormed 
the hill. Corse, bleeding and faint, still called his dimin 
ished band around him and told them it was a matter of 
life and death to Sherman's army that the place should be 
held. But, borne back by mere weight of numbers, the 
garrison was forced from the hill into the fort. Half the 
entire immber had already fallen, bravely contesting every 
inch of ground, and Corse, a part of the time, was insensi- 
ble from his wounds, but when he came to himself^ the 
indomitable hero faintly told them to fight on while a 
man was left. A more gallant defence was never made. 

13 



194 MAJOR-GENERAL SHERMAN. 

and Corse has inscribed his name on the rocks of Alla- 
toona forever. 

From daylight till noon he maintained the unequal 
struggle, and resolved to die there on the last spot where a 
defence could be made. The rebels repulsed, at last drew off 
for a space, and then the garrison caught the flutter of that 
little flag on the mountain height and knew its meaning. 
"Hold on," it said, "relief is coming." In silent, yet 
thrilling language, the answering signal came across the 
intervening space : " Yes, to the last man." Glorious 
announcement ! Sherman was satisfied, and hurried up 
still faster the panting troops. At length the heads of the 
columns appeared in sight, but the enemy had fled, leav- 
ing two hundred of his number stark and stiff before the 
works, and four hundred prisoners in our hands. Sher- 
man was delighted, and thanking Corse warmly for his 
gallant defence, issued a general order, in which he 
was highly complimented. 

Hood kept on towards Chattanooga, destroying the 
railroad at Dalton, followed hard by Sherman. He then 
struck off to the west and then southwest, at the rate 
of twenty-five miles a day, until he reached Gadsden. 
Sherman kept up the pursuit as far as Gaylesville, Ala- - 
bama, where he halted. 

While every one was expecting to see him follow 
Hood up and demolish him, he stopped pursuit, and 
struck out a plan as daring as it was new and original. 
Thomas had before been sent to Nashville, to collect 
troops from Sherman's whole department of the Missis- 
sippi, and now Schofield, with the Fourth and Twenty- 
Third Corps, was left to watch Hood, and be the nucleus 
of the new army Thomas was to gather, while he himself 
prepared to retrace his steps to Atlanta, and commence 



BURNING OF ROME. 195 

his march through Georgia to the ocean. Strengthening 
a few points like Bridgeport, Chattanooga and Murfrees- 
boro*, that must be held, he abandoned others, and rapidly 
concentrated an army of about 65,000 men, thoroughly 
organized and equipped, and before Hood dreamed of his 
daring scheme, had cut loose from everything, and was 
on his way to Savannah. His start was like that of 
Cortez for Mexico, when he burned his ships on the 
shore, to let his soldiers know he never intended to re- 
turn to them again. 

First, everything in E-ome was burned^a thousand 
bales of cotton, two flour mills, two tanneries, a salt mill, 
foundry, machine-shops, depots, store-houses and bridges 
were set on fire, making a fearful conflagration. The 
soldiers, seeing the destruction going on, applied the torch 
to the private dwellings, and the night of the 10th of 
November witnessed an awful scene. The flames leaped 
and roared through the smoky atmosphere — houses tot- 
tered and fell with a crash amid the blazing embers, while 
the heavens above glowed like a furnace, shedding a 
ghastly light on the mounted patrols, and flooding field 
and mountain in flame. 

Four days after, the torch was also applied to all the 
public buildings and depots of Atlanta, making a second 
conflagration, and lighting up the marching columns niov- 
ing out to be ready to start the next morning for the sea; 
the bands playing, amid the wild and terrific scene, "John 
Brown's Soul goes Marching on." 

In the meantime, Sherman wrote to Porter, on the 
Atlantic coast, to be looking out for him about Christmas, 
" from Hilton Head to Savannah ; " and to his wife, say- 
ing, " This is my last letter from here ; you will only 
hear from me hereafter through rebel sources." His army, 



196 MAJOR-GENERAL SHERMAN. 

four corps strong, was divided into two wings — the right 
wing, commanded by Howard, consisting of the Fifteenth 
and Seventeenth Corps; and the left by Slocum, composed 
of the Fourteenth and Twentieth. The march, when- 
ever practicable, was to be by four parallel roads. There 
was no general train of supplies for the army, but each 
corps had its own, distributed among the brigades and 
regiments. The columns were to start regularly at seven 
o'clock every morning, and make an average march of 
fifteen miles a day. Two divisions of cavalry, the whole 
commanded by Kilpatrick, was to cover the flanks of the 
columns. An order directed the arm}' '4o forage liberally 
on the march," each brigade commander to organize a 
good and sufficient foraging party, under the command 
of one or more discreet officers, and "iiiming, at all times, 
to keep in the wagon trains at least ten days' provisions 
for the commands, and three days' forage." It was also 
ordered — " Soldiers shall not enter the dwellings of the 
inhabitants, or commit any trespass, but during the halt 
or camp they may be permitted to gather turnips, pota- 
toes, and other vegetables, and drive in stock in front of 
their camps." 

Where the inhabitants molested the army, or guerillas 
were quartered, or bridges burned to retard the march, the 
corps commanders were empowered to burn, destroy, and 
devastate to any extent they deemed the exigencies of the 
ease demanded. Horses, mules, and wagons were to be 
taken wherever found. In foraging, the officers might, 
if they chose, "give certificates of the facts, but no 
receipts; and they will endeavor to leave with each 
family a reasonable portion for their maintenance." 
Able-bodied negroes, who could be of service, were al- 
lowed to accompany the army ; but he would not permit 



THE MARCH COMMENCED. 197 

it to be encumbered with the aged, or with women and 
children. 

On the 15th of November, this splendid army of 
brawny western men, stripped like an athlete for the 
race and the struggle, set its face toward the Atlantic 
ocean, and with banners streaming and bands playing, 
bade farewell to the smouldering ruins of Atlanta. Slo- 
cum, commanding the left wing, was to march directly 
east, on the railroad leading from Atlanta to Augusta, de- 
stroying it as he went. Howard, with the right wing, 
was to follow the Georgia Central road, running south- 
east through IMacon and Milledgeville to Savannah. Two 
columns of cavalry — one to the north of Slocum, and 
the other to the south of Howard — were to protect their 
flanks, and conceal entirely from view the routes of the 
infantry. All between them was to be a terra incognita^ 
for the time being, to the external rebel world. By the 
road Slocum took, it was 170 miles to Augusta ; by that 
which Howard marched, 291 to Savannah. This was the 
main outline, as traced by Sherman, for this wonderful 
march. He had little to fear from his rear, for he had 
left Hood away back on the Tennessee, gathering in his 
forces to crush him, as he supposed, in a decisive battle. 
Even while the rebel speechmakers were descanting in the 
neighborhood of the army on the speedy overthrow of 
this bold invader, now declared to be in their front, his 
columns were far away, piercing the heart of Georgia. 

When this daring movement was first made public, 
it is hard to say which was most astonished — the North 
or South. Nothing like it had ever been heard of in 
modern warfare. The rebel editors and declaimers on 
the Atlantic seaboard professed to be rejoiced at it, for it 
secured, they said, the destruction of Sherman's armv 



198 MAJOR-GENERAL SHERMAN. 

The aroused people, they declared, would hang along hia 
flanks as lightning plays along the edge of the thunder 
cloud, and remove beyond reach all the provisions, so 
that his army would be dissipated and vanquished by 
starvation alone. The spirit of the ancient Rolla was in- 
voked, "to raze every house and burn every blade of grass" 
in front of the invader. In Europe, it created almost 
equal astonishment. Said the London Times, " Since the 
great Duke of Marborough turned his back upon the 
Dutch, and plunged heroically into Germany to fight the 
famous battle of Blenheim, military history has recorded 
no stranger marvel than the mysterious expedition of 
General Sherman, on an unknown route against an un- 
discoverable enemy ; " but, after all, doubted greatly its 
success. The British Army and Navy Gazette, in speak- 
ing of it, said, " He has done either one of the most 
brilliant or most foolish things ever performed by a mili- 
tary leader." The Bichmond papers scornfully boasted, 
that his march "would lead him to the Paradise of fools/' 
The ablest critics of Europe, however, declared, that if he 
were successful, he would " add a fresh chapter to the 
theory and practice of modern warfare." At the North, 
many doubted the expediency of the novel movement. 
Some, feeling how impossible it would be for an army to 
march that distance through any northern State, and not 
taking into consideration that the hard-^\'orking classes 
and farmers that constitute the bulk of the population 
here were slaves there, and friendly to the invader, pre- 
dicted that he would be compelled to retrace his steps. 
Others, knowing that with such a rapid march as he con- 
templated, he could carry no siege trains with him to re- 
duce fortified places, said, that he could at best but strike 
the sea, without securing any important foothold, and 



DOUBTS AS TO THE RESULT. 199 

thus leave only a wide and desolate track as the sole fruit 
of the undertaking. Others, still, feared that the west 
was left too much weakened, and that rebel conquests 
there would more than offset all that would be gained 
by a march across Georgia. But while at home and 
abroad the air was filled with ominous forebodings, the 
cause of them all was calm and confident. The last con- 
tingency — viz., disaster in the west, was the most to be 
feared ; and Sherman said, afterward, " If Thomas had 
not whipped Hood at Nashville, 600 miles away, my 
plans would have failed, and I would have been de- 
nounced the world over ; but," he added, " I knew Gen- 
eral Thomas, and the troops under his command, and 
never for a moment doubted a favorable result." He had 
not left his fate in the hands of an untried commander ; 
he could trust Thomas as implicitly as himself. The 
"Rock of Chickamauga" would never fail him. There 
was one contingency, however, he did not contemplate, 
which might have ruined him — the removal of Thomas 
by the Secretary of War, when he failed " to move at 
once on the enemy's works at Nashville." Had he been 
allowed to wield the same power that he had for the past 
two years, this most brilliant movement in military an- 
nals, and most decisive of the fate of the Confederacy, 
might have proved a calamitous failure. 

Sherman, however, trusting calmly in Thomas, Grant, 
his army, his oa\ti genius, and a favoring providence, cut 
loose his moorings and drifted boldly out to sea. Slocum, 
moving out on separate roads, destroying the railroad as 
he advanced, pushed on through Decatur, Stone Moun- 
tain, Social Circle, Rutledge and Madison, fiUing the in- 
habitants with consternation, who never dreamed that an 
enemy's army would penetrate to those retired, remote 



200 MAJOR-GENERAL SHERMAN. 

regions. From Madison, Geary's division pushed on to 
the Oconee river, destroying a bridge over it 1,500 feet 
long, while a body of cavahy crossed it and advanced as 
far as Greensboro', eighty-four miles from Augusta. Slo- 
cum turned suddenly south from Madison towards Mil- 
ledgeville. The Fourteenth Corps Avheeled in the same 
direction, further back, and now Geary to the eastward, 
did the same thing, moving down the west bank of the 
Oconee. On the 21st, Slocum entered Milledgeville, the 
capital of the State. The next day, Howard's wing came 
marching in with banners displayed and music playing. 
He had moved on Macon, covered by a cloud of Kilpat- 
rick's cavalry, which found at Lovejoy's about 3,000 
Georgia militia. Charging on these, Kilpatrick killed some 
fifty, and scattered the rest in flight. Howard followed leis- 
urely, destroying the railroad behind him as he advanced. 
At Bear Creek Wheeler's cavalry was met, and forced 
back finally to Macon. Here was concentrated a large 
army, defended by breastworks and artillery, for the enemy 
had no doubt that Sherman's grand object was to take 
this place. But while the cavalry was threatening it, 
he ordered Howard, when within a few miles of it, 
to leave the railroad, and crossing the Ocmulgee, pass 
north to the same railroad, beyond his line of march, 
making the base of an obtuse triangle, of which Macon 
was the apex. Thus, while the rebel commanders were 
preparing for a desperate defence of the place, they beheld 
to their amazement, the army beyond them, quietly 
marching on toward Milledgeville. Sherman had evi- 
dently never heard of or had forgotten the old established 
military maxim, " never to leave a fortified place of the 
enemy in your rear." He marched where he pleased, with 
the insouciance of a man oblivious of danger, and igno- 



A COMIC LEGISLATURE. 201 

i-ant of all the rules of war. Passing rapidly through 
Jackson, Indian Springs, Monticello, and Hillsboro\ like 
one on a flying visit, he entered Milledgeville the day 
after Howard. Here he halted for several days, and 
swept the surrounding country of forage and provisions 
for future use. He had left a part of the Fifteenth Corps 
at Griswoldsville, ten miles east of Macon, where he 
again struck the railroad, to protect his rear while march- 
ing on the capital. The enemy at Macon, enraged at 
being thus completely outwitted, made a furious attack 
with three brigades of militia on it, but of course was re- 
pulsed with the loss of nearly a thousand men. It was a 
mad freak, but as something must be done, this, perhaps, 
was about as good as anything else in their power. 

Sherman took up his headquarters in the Executive 
^lansion, which had been completely stripped of i'urniture, 
but he did not seem to miss it, for spreading a pair of 
blankets on the floor, he presented a much more striking 
appearance, though he did not keep up quite so much 
state as his rebel excellency had done, who had just left. 
The soldiers took possession of the State House, organiz- 
ed the Legislature by appointing a speaker, and pro- 
ceeded to business. Motions were made, resolutions 
ofl'ered and speeches delivered ; and though Jefterson's 
Manual Avas not strictly followed, and parliamentary eti- 
quette certainly violated, and the speaker very much lack- 
ing in dignity, and the House decidedly disorderly, yet, the 
proceedings, on the whole, were much more interesting and 
sensible than any that had taken place there for the last 
three years. The rebel Legislature had been in session, 
but Sherman's near approach broke it up in great con- 
fusion, and the members with the Governor fled wildly 
back into the interior. This scene was enacted over again 



202 MAJOR-GENERAL SHERMAN. 

by the new Legislature, composed of the soldiers. In the 
midst of their comic deliberations, a courier rushed into 
the chamber shouting, " The Yankees are coming." In 
a moment all was confusion, and amid shouts and yells 
and laughter, the rollicking multitude rushed for the 
door. 

The army was near Milledgeville on the national 
Thanksgidng Day, and having prepared for it by judi- 
cious foraging previously, they celebrated it in the heart 
of rebeldom by a sumptuous dinner of chickens and tur- 
keys. Over every camp-fire hung a fowl, and, amid jokes 
and laughter, and all the abandon of camp-life, the nar 
tional festival was kept by the troops. 

Having sufficiently rested, and equipped with rations 
for forty days in the wagons, the armj^ now resumed its 
march eastward. At Sandersville, Wheeler disputed our 
advance ; but, after a brief action, fell back to Waynes- 
boro', only thirty miles south of Augusta. Kilpatrick 
followed on and was attacked by him, but repulsed him 
with a loss of two hundred men. The operations of Kil- 
patrick so near Augusta alarmed the inhabitants of the 
place, who now had no doubt that their city -sv^as the chief 
point of attack. But while the cavalry swarmed the 
country in this direction, concealing the real- move- 
ments of the army, it was marching rapidly on Millen, 
some sixty miles south of the place, and seventy-five 
miles from Milledgeville. It was reached in eight days, 
Decem'ber 2d. Here Sherman again halted, while the 
cavalry scoured the country in every direction. His 
arrival at this place seemed at last to arouse the rebel 
authorities to the danger that threatened them. They 
had affected to believe all the time that Sherman was 
only on a great raid ; but the nearness of his approach 



MARCH ON SAVANNAH. 208 

both to Augusta and Savannah, convinced them that he 
had a greater object in view than to burn cotton and 
destroy railroads, and leave a wide track of desolation in 
his rear. Augusta lies due north from Mill en, and Savan- 
nah ' directly southeast — the railroad to the latter running 
along the Ogeechee river. From this point Sherman 
could look back with pride on his track. For a hundred 
miles the Georgia Central Railroad lay a wreck, and the 
Georgia road for more than sixty. He had travelled 
where he listed, and with but little molestation, living in 
the meantime on the fat of the land. It had been like a 
holiday march, so completely had he deceived the enemy 
respecting his own plans, and thwarted all of theirs. Now, 
for the first time, his movements were cleared from all 
obscurity. Concealment was no longer possible, for he 
was compelled to take a decisive step in some one direc- 
tion. On the 2d of December, with the various columns 
well closed up, ammunition and provisions in plenty, the 
ai-my, strengthened instead of weakened by its long 
march, and buoyant with hope and confidence in its 
great leader, moved out of Millen, and swinging on it as 
a pivot, swept down in six parallel columns, by as many 
different roads toward Savannah. As at Macon, so now 
at Augusta, the rebel army massed there, saw Sherman 
leaving them idle and useless far in his rear. 

The country through which the line of march now lay 
was covered with pine forests, beneath the murmuring 
branches of which the army moved rapidly forward. 

Heretofore their march had led them through richly- 
cultivated fields, past costly plantations, and houses tilled 
with luxuries, and villages smiling amid peaceful plains. 
The soldiers had looked with amazement on a country 
upon which nature had lavished her gifts with su«^h a 



204 MAJOR-GENERAL SHERMAN. 

bountiful hand. Now they passed for a time into an 
entirely different world. 

At night the scene was often wild and picturesque. 
^"'or iniles and miles throuoh the forest, the blazing 
torches, now moving in zigzag lines among the trees, 'now 
standing in long rows like a burning colonnade, lighted 
up the scene mth a strange splendor. Here and there 
large camp-fires thrcAV into bold relief, against the back- 
ground of darkness, the motionless triniks of trees, reced- 
ing away in the gloom like the columns in a dimly-lighted 
cathedral, and shed a cheerful glow on the countless tents 
that stretched as far as the eye could reach on every side, 
while bands of music, answering each other in the dis- 
tance, filled the vast forest with melody. Everywhere 
through the solemn arcades rang the cries of teamsters, 
the neighing of animals, and shouts of men. Far in front 
and rear, where the cavalry bivouacked, the sCene was 
still more inspiring. The bugle call sounding the halt, 
the clanking of sabres, and the endless stream of horses, 
winding among the trees amid the dee|)ening shadows, 
gave the Av^hole an air of romance, and made it seem more 
like the creation of the imagination, than an actual, 
every-day scene. The breaking-up of camp in the morn- 
ing, the roll of the drum, the echoing strains of the bugle, 
dying away in the dim solitude — the marshalling of tlie 
columns, the long lines of steel passing like an endless 
glittering stream among the trees, presented a new 
picture, as though some unseen hand had suddenly 
shifted the scenes. 

Thus the great army swept on through cities, villages, 
and forests. " In the day time, the splendor, the toil, the 
desolation of the march ; in the night time, the brillian- 
cy, the music, the joy, and the slumber of the camp. 



SAVANNAH REACHED. 205 

Memorable tlie music ' that mocked the noon ' of No- 
vember of the soil of Georgia ; sometimes a triumphant 
march, swelling out over the plains, and echoing through 
the leafy solitudes, and again, an old air stirring the 
heart alike to recollection and hope. Floating out from 
throats of brass to the ears of soldiers in their blankets, 
and generals within their tents, these tunes hallowed the 
evenings to all that listened." 

One of the most novel features of this march was the 
tattered, mongrel crowd of blacks that, despite Sherman's 
order, followed in its trail. 

A river on either flank protected it, while the cavalry, 
no longer needed as a curtain, moved in advance and 
rear, as a guard. Thus, for over eighty miles, the army 
moved steadily down on Savannah. About ten miles 
from the city the left wing struck the Charleston railroad, 
and encountered the skirmishers of the army of Hardee, 
who was in command of the place. 

The right wing also approached the outer line of the 
enemy's works. Sherman was now where he could hear 
the signal guns, in Ossabaw Sound, that for days had 
been firing, as had long before been agreed upon. Their 
heavy boom, ringing over' Savannah and the neighboring 
tbrests, Avas full of mystery to the inhabitants, but they 
spoke a language well understood by Sherman. In the 
meantime. Colonel Duncan, on tlie 9th, started doA\ ii the 
Ogeechee, and three days after stepped aboard of Dahl- 
gren's flagship. Sherman had once more reached the 
outer world, where the news of what was going on could 
be received. 

The army now closed gradually and steadily in upon 
the city ; working its way day by day by hard flghting 
nearer and nearer to the coveted prize. The enemy had 



206 MAJOR-GENERAL SHERMAN. 

opened the canals, and flooded the rice-fields below it, till 
a vast swamp met the eye on every side. Where a high 
road traversed these, it was swept by rebel artillery, but 
still the enthusiastic soldiers would see no insurmountable 
obstacles, and inch by inch, always advanced, and never 
receded. 

But Sherman saw that he must have water communi- 
cation with the fleet, to get up heavy guns, and yet there 
was no likelihood that Dahlgren could force his way up 
the Savannah river. He, therefore, determined to cap- 
ture Fort McAllister, at the mouth of the Ogeechee, 
which enters the ocean but a few miles south of the Sa- 
vannah. This fort was a very strong one, and had re- 
sisted two or three bombardments of our iron-clads ; but 
the rebels, by a strange fatality, seemed to overlook the 
possibility of a land attack by Sherman, and had neg- 
lected to strengthen its garrison. 

Sherman could hot spare the time for a siege, and 
hence determined to carry it by assault. The gallant 
Hazen, with his division, was selected for the hazardous 
undertaking. Having marched fifteen miles during the 
day and night of the 12th, the latter was ready on the 
afternoon of the 13th for the desperate assault. On the 
roof of a rice mill, on the other side of the river, stood 
Sherman and Howard, and their respective staffs, with 
signal ofiicers. To aid in the assault Dahlgren had been 
requested to send round a gunboat. The anxious chieftain 
now turned his eye toward the sea to catch the signals of 
the expected fleet, but nothing but a blue expanse met his 
gaze. Time passed with leaden footsteps, and he paced 
the roof nervously, exclaiming, " Hazen must carry the 
place by assault to-night." At length the smoke of the 
pipes was seen, and soon the answering signals were dis- 



STORMING OP FORT MoALLISTER. 207 

cerned. Turning toward Hazen's waiting battalions, he 
saw his signal flying, " I shall assault immediately." The 
gunboat was now steadily steaming forward, and in reply 
to the enquiry of Sherman, "Can you assist*?" the captain 
answered, "Yes; what will you have us do*?" The 
thunder of the enemy's guns in the fort was the answer, 
and then came the rattling of small arms. Hazen was 
on the march. Dashing on the double quick over a space 
nearly a third of a mile in breadth, swept by the rebel 
artillery, the resolute column reached a deep ditch with 
its bottom planted thick with sharp palisades. Wrench- 
ing these out of their deep beds by main force, a living 
hand taking the place of a dead one as fast as it dropped, 
the}^ tore madly through, and breasting the awful fire 
that smote them, mounted with loud shouts the deadly 
ramparts. Sherman watched the onset through his glass 
with, the deepest anxiety. " There they go grandly," he 
exclaims. A few seconds pass, and again he almost shouts, 
"See that flag in the advance, Howard! how steadily it 
moves — not a man falters. There they go still. Grand! 
grand ! " Still he strains his ej^es, and a moment after 
speaks without looking up, "That flag still goes forward; 
there is no flinching there." After a moment's pause he 
exclaims, " Look, it has halted. They waver — no, it's the 
parapet. There they go again — now they reach it — some 
are over. Look there — a flag on the works! Another! 
another ! It's ours — the fort is ours ! " The glass dropped 
by his side, his face lighted up with a sudden gleam, and 
turning to one of his aids, he said, " Captain, have a 
boat ready ; I am going down to the fleet." Seizing a 
slip of paper, he wrote a despatch to the Government, 
closing with this assurance: "I regard Savannah as al- 
ready gained." 



208 MAJOR-GENERAL SHERMAN. 

The capture of" Savannah was now a foregone conclu. 
sion. Being completely invested on every side but the 
eastern, its fall was only a (juestion of time, and on the 
16th, Sherman sent in a formal demand for its surrender. 
Hardee refused, and the former l)rought up more siege 
gims, and mounted them along his lines. In four days 
he was ready to open the bombardment. Hardee now saw 
that to attempt to hold tlie place would only subject the 
city to certain destruction, and inflict untold horrors on 
the inhabitants, and so on that night, under cover of the 
darkness, crossed his army to the Carolina shore on a 
pontoon bridge, and marched it rapidly off toward 
Charleston. The next morning, at daylight, Geary's 
pickets crept up to the silent works, and over them — 
meeting with no resistance — and soon after Geary himself 
received from the Mayor the formal surrender of the 
place. 

Sherman sent the following terse despatch to the 
President : 

"I beg to present you as a Christmas gift, the city of 
Savannah, with one hundred and fifty guns and plenty 
of ammunition, and about twenty-five thousand bales of 
cotton." It turned out that there were thirtj^-eight thou- 
sand bales. Three steamers were also captured, with 
locomotives, cars, &c., and eight hundred prisoners. 

Thus ended another of the most wonderful campaigns 
on record. In leaving his real base at Nashville, and 
marching nearly three hundred miles into the enemy's 
country, dependent all the time on a single line of rail- 
way for supplies, he had exploded as before remarked, a 
received military maxim, and established in its place one 
of his own. Not content with this, he took another step 
forward in his bold innovations ; he gave up a base alto 



SAVANNAH OURS. 209 

gether and permanently, and flung his army into mid-air, 
to live as it could, until it reached another base on a dis- 
tant ocean. For boldness and originality of design and 
masterly execution, this campaign stands alone in the 
history of modern warfare. The South was struck dumb 
at its success ; all its prophecies had proved false, while 
the North was jubilant with delight and rang with his 
praises. He had not only got through safely, but he 
brought into Savannah not the wreck of a half starved, 
exhausted army, but one in a better condition, if possible, 
than when it started ; the animals fresh and vigorous, and 
not a wagon lost. A thousand men would cover his 
entire loss in this long and wonderful march. 

Superficial observers, dazzled by a great battle, do not 
appreciate the mental greatness that can devise and carry 
out two such campaigns as the one from Chattanooga to 
Atlanta,, and from the latter place to Savannah ; but the 
military student will never cease wondering at their mag- 
nitude, originality and success. Grant had said that the 
Southern Confederacy was a shell ; Sherman had 
proved it. 



14 




OF THE 

CAIIOLINAS 




PONTOON BRIDGE, JONES LANDING, JAMES RIVER, VA. 



W^^ 



. t 






.^ 




^IL, „^./"'', 




FORT DARLING, JAJIES RIVER, VA. 



CHAPTER X. 

THE CAMPAIGN IN THE CAROLINAS. 

8HERMAIT PLANS HIS NORTHERN CAMPAIGN — STRENGTH AND DIVISION OP HIS 
ARMY — THE TRAINS — CONSTRUCTION TRAIN — THE LEFT WING THREATEN? 
AUGUSTA — THE RIGHT CHARLESTON — RAIN STORMS — 8ALKAHATCHIE AS A 
LINE OP DEFENCE — SHERMAN's PLAN TO SEPARATE THE FORCES AT CHAR- 
LESTON AND AUGUSTA COMPLETELY SUCCESSFUL — THE RAILROAD BE- 
TWEEN THE TWO BROKEN UP — CAPTURE OF ORANGEBURG BRANCHVILLE 

LEFT IN THE REAR — THE ARMY REACHES THE SALUDA — PALL OF CO- 
LUMBIA — IS SET ON FIRE BY THE REBELS— SHERMAN'S ACCOUNT OF — ANEC- 
DOTES OF SHERMAN — CHARLOTTE THREATENED AND BEAUREGARD BEWII,- 
DERED — PALL OP CHARLESTON — THE ARMY WHEELS ABOUT AND MARCHES 
ON FAYETTEVILLE — THE TWO WINGS MEET FOR THE FIRST TIME AT 
CHERAW— CAPTURE OP FAYETTEVILLE AND COMMUNICATION OPENED 
WITH TERRY AND SCHOFIELD — RALEIGH THREATENED — BATTLE OP BEN- 
TONVILLE— GOLDSBORO REACHED — THE CAMPAIGN VIRTUALLY ENDED— 
SHERMAN VISITS GRANT AND IS DIRECTED TO CO-OPERATE WITH HIM — HIS 
RETURN— NEWS OF THE FALL OF PETERSBURG — SHERMAN MARCHES ON 
RALEIGH — NEWS OF LEE's SURRENDER — EXCITEMENT IN THE ARMY — 
INTERVIEW WITH JOHNSTON — THE ARMISTICE— CONDUCT OF THE SECRE- 
TARY OF WAR — VINDICATION OF SHERMAN — INJUSTICE AND CRUELTY OF 
THE ATTACKS ON HIM — HIS CHARACTER. 

He now gave his army rest, preparatory to another 
movement which should equally astonish the world, and not 
only fill with amazement, but demolish the rebel govern- 
ment. What his first step would be no one knew ; some in- 
sisting that his objective point would be Augusta, others 
Charleston. He might take ship and transport his army 
to the neighborhood of Richmond ; or he might in his 



214 MAJOR-GENERAL SHERMAN 

lordly way march all the way up through the Confeder- 
acy, crushing the rebel cities and fortifications like egg- 
shells beneath his feet as he advanced, until he caged Lee 
in Richmond. 

The problem before him did not seem a simple one, 
and minds of the greatest forecast saw difficulties in his 
way they could not solve. But Sherman appeared to 
have no trouble about it. From the quiet, confident man- 
ner in which he formed his plans and marked down the 
route of his march, one would think there was but one 
road he could travel. He exhibits no hesitation or 
doubt; the complications that confuse others, he appa- 
rently does not see. This clear insight as to the right 
course to pursue, and the unhesitating, confident manner 
in which he adopts it, is one of the most extraordinary 
characteristics of the man. When joined with unvarying 
success, it is the distinctive, unerring mark of true 
genius. 

Sherman remained not quite a month in Savannah, 
resting and reorganizing his arm}^, and refitting it before 
starting on his third and final campaign. His force, of 
all arms, was about sixty-five thousand men, divided into 
four corps, with an arm}' train consisting of four thousand 
five hundred vehicles of all kinds, which, if stretched out 
in a single line in marching order, would have extended 
forty-five miles. But it was divided into four parts, each 
moving by a separate road to avoid crowding and con- 
fusion. The distance to be traversed before the army 
should reach Goldsboro', was about five hundred miles. 
One of the most important divisions of the army on this 
march was to be the Construction Corps. Its labors had 
been great and invaluable from the time Sherman left 
Chattanooga ; but, fi'om the numerous broad rivers, and 



CONSTRUCTION CORPS. 215 

miles and miles of swamp that crossed the li.ie of march 
now before him, its work was to be herciJean. Living 
on platform cars, wading to their necks in swanij)s and 
rivers, working by torch-light and day-light, heedless of 
cold or wet or pestiferous air, it was to make a highway 
from Savannah to Goldsboro'', for this wonderful arm}'. 
From the first, it had seemed to carry Aladdin's lamp, for 
at its approach bridges leaped across rivers, wrecked rail- 
roads rose into completeness, obstructed highways became 
clear, and all so suddenly, that the colunms scarcely 
stopped marching. The people of the countiy wondered 
at its magical power. Once, in Georgia, a rebel was con- 
gratulating a planter on the destruction of a tunnel by 
Forrest. " Humph ! " replied the latter, " Sherman has 
got a duplicate of it.'' 

In organizing this campaign, Sherman had determined 
to move straight on Columbia, as his first objective point. 
But to reach it without severe battles, it was of vital im- 
portance that he should, at the outset, divide the rebel 
forces at Augusta from those at Charleston and its vicini- 
ty ; for if they should be concentrated and make the 
rivers successive lines of defence,, they would at least 
very much retard his progress and cut up his army. 
Hence, he determined, with Kilpatrick's cavalry and the 
left wing under Slocum, to threaten Augusta, while, with 
his right, under Howard, he threatened Braiichville and 
Charleston. The former, therefore, moved off up the 
Savannah towards Augusta, while the right wing was 
taken to Beaufort, thence to the main land, where it be- 
gan to march up the Charleston railroad. Augusta, mth 
its arsenal, machine-shops, cotton, rolling stock, &c., was 
of vital importance to the rebels, while southern pride 
could not consent to give up Charleston. Had John- 



216 MAJOR-GENERAL SHERMAN. 

ston been in command here instead of Beauregard, he 
would have doubtless caused Sherman a good deal of 
trouble. But the latter, though a superb engineer, was 
not an able commander, and made a fatal mistake at the 
outset. He should at once have abandoned both these 
places, and concentrated his entire force on the Salka- 
hatchie. If Sherman had attempted to force it, he would 
have met with heavy loss. If he had outflanked him, 
Johnston still would have had a central position, and been 
able to strike his flank or assail him while crossing rivers 
with his heav}' trains, still falling back so as to reach Colum- 
bia with his army tirst. But, trying to hold too much, 
he lost everything, and that without fighting a battle. 

Though delayed a long time by heavy rains which 
made the Savannah three miles wide at Sisters Ferry, 
Slocum and Kilpatrick at length crossed over, and moved 
up towards Augusta. Being so formidably threatened, 
it not only retained its garrison, but strengthened it by 
that portion of Hood's army which, under Cheatam, had 
arrived. 

Howard's movement on the right, kept the troops near 
Charleston and Branchville, at these places, till" our 
armies quietly slipped in between the two forces, hopelessly 
separating them. Sherman had advised Grant that he in- 
tended, with one stride, to reach Goldsboro\ and there open 
his communications with the seaboard b)- way of Newbern. 
whither Schofield had been sent to co-operate with him. 
Col. Wright, superintendent of military railroads, was 
also despatched thither, to put the railroad in order, so 
that there should be no delay in the movements Of Scho- 
field's army. Those who wish to follow the movements 
of the two wings and their separate corps, can consult 
Sherman's report, in the latter end of the book. We 



THE MARCH COMMENCED. 217 

shall confine ourselves to a general description of the 
movements. 

The supplies for the right wing were completed at 
Pocotaligo, and those for the left at Sister's Ferry. 

The floods, from the heavy rains of January, having 
subsided, Howard moved forward on the last day of the 
month, while Hatch's division remained at Pocotaligo, to 
keep up the appearance of marching on Charleston by the 
railroad bridge over the Salkahatchie, at that point. How- 
ard's corps, as it moved up the river, found all the roads 
obstructed by trees felled in every direction across them, 
while the bridges over the minor streams were burned ; 
but the pioneer battalion removed the one and rebuilt 
the other, before the rear had time to close up. Charles- 
ton lay to the eastward of the army, while Columbia was 
in a direct line north. A railroad runs from Charleston 
to Augusta, across the State, with Midway station half 
Avay between, and lying due south from Columbia. To 
this point the right wing now directed its course. The 
rebels held the Salkahatchie in force, but, as narrated in 
the sketch of Howard, the line of the enemy was broken 
here,^ and the river crossed with a loss to us of less than 
ninety men. The army then pushed on for the railroad, 
which they reached on the 7th, and commenced tearing 
up the track, thus effectually dividing the rebel forces at 
Charleston and Augusta. The left wing did the same, 
striking the road further up, toward Augusta, and also 
commenced the work of destruction. While the latter 
was thus employed, the right wing moved north on 
Orangeburg, leaving the astonished rebels on the demo- 
lished road at Branchville waiting its approach toward 
Charleston, directly in the rear. The Edisto here fur- 
nished the next best line of defence, after the Salka- 



218 MAJOR-GENERAL SHERMAN. 

liatchie. But the rebel commander had so long thought 
of nothing and labored for nothing but Charleston, that 
lie could not be persuaded that it was not the chief ob- 
ject of Sherman s desires, and so lay behind his fortifica 
tions at Braxichville to protect it. Still, he had caused 
the bridge over the South Edisto to be burned, and sta- 
tioned a force at the spot to oppose the passage of our 
army. Mower, with the advance division, as he ap 
proached the burned bridge was saluted with a heavy fire 
of artillery, which arrested his progress. Lower doAvn, 
however, by wadmg to the armpits, and often swimming, 
the men succeeded in launching four pontoon boats into 
the water, and just as the moon was rising, the division 
was got across, which, pouncing upon the astonished re- 
bels in flank, scattered them in confusion through 
the moonlit woods. Two days after, the north fork was 
reached. For fifteen miles along this river, the spread- 
out army made demonstrations at different points, so that 
the scattered enemy could do very little in opposing the 
passage, except by skirmishing. It is a peculiarity of 
Sherman, that he is almost always on the skirmish line, 
in front, where he can see personally what is going on. 

The rebel force in Orangeburg now fled north to (Co- 
lumbia, and this place, with a population of three thou- 
sand, fell into our hands. A conflagration, however, was 
raging at the time, which the soldiers, under the orders of 
Howard and Sherman, labored hard to extinguish. The 
place was set on fire by a Jew, in revenge for fifty bales 
of cotton of his destroyed by the rebels. The negro 
pioneers here ran riot among the ornamented grounds of 
the wealthy citizens. Sherman says : " Blaii* was then 
ordered to destroy the railroad eftectually up to Lewis- 
ville, and to push the enemj- across the Congaree, and 



COLUMBIA REACHED. 219 

force him to bum the bridges, which he did on the 14th ; 
and without wasting time or labor on Branchville or 
Charleston, which I knew the enemy could no longer 
hold, I turned all the columns straight on Columbia/'' 
The left wing swept on in the same direction farther to 
the west. Over the Edisto — across swamps and streams 
— straight through the heart of the proud, rebellious 
State, the mighty columns moved with resistless power, 
till on the 16th, Howard drew up on the banks of the 
Saluda, in front of Columbia. An hour later the head 
of the advance column of the left wing appeared on the 
shore of the same stream, farther to the west, and the 
capital of South Carolina lay under our guns. The 
Mayor surrendered the city, and Sherman, in anticipation 
of it, says: "I made written orders to General Howard, 
touching the conduct of the troops. These were to de- 
stroy absolutely all arsenals and public property not need- 
ed for our own use, as well as all railroads, depots, and 
machinery useful in war to an enemy, but to spare all 
colleges, dwellings, schools, asylums, and harmless private 
property. I was the first to cross the pontoon bridge, 
and in company with General Howard, rode into the 
city. The day was clear, but a perfect tempest of wind 
was raging. The brigade of Colonel Stone was already 
in the city, and properly posted. Citizens and soldiers 
were in the streets, and general good order prevailed. 
General Wade Hampton, who commanded the Confederate 
rear-guard of cavahy, in anticipation of our capture of 
Columbia, had ordered that all cotton, public and private, 
should be moved into the streets, and fired, to prevent our 
making use of it. Bales were piled everywhere, the rope 
and bagging cut, and tufts of cotton were blown about in 
♦■he wind, lodged in the trees and against houses, so as to 



220 MAJOR-GENERAL SHERMAN. 

resemble a snow storm. Some of these piles of cotton were 
burning, especially one in the very heart of the city, near 
tlie court-house, but the fire was partially subdued by the 
labors of our soldiers." It must he remembered that the 
army did not enter Columbia. The Fifteenth Corps 
alone marched through, and encamped beyond on the 
Camden road. The Seventeenth did not enter- the place 
at all, while the entire left wing and cavalry did not come 
within two miles of the city. A single brigade was 
placed within it on duty. Sherman says: "Before a sin- 
gle public building had been fired by order, the wind had 
fanned the smouldering fire in the cotton bales into a flame, 
which extended to the houses, and soon after dark the city 
was wrapped in a fearful conflagration. Wood's division 
was now brought in to help subdue the flames, and the 
soldiers went to work with a will. I," says Sherman, 
"was up nearly all night, and saw Generals HoAvard, Lo- 
gan, Wood, and others, laboring to save houses and fam- 
ilies, thus suddenly deprived of shelter, and of bedding 
and wearing apparel. I disclaim, on the part of my 
army, any agency in this fire, but, on the contrary, claim 
that we saved of Columbia what remains unconsumed." 
He acknowledges — what any one acijuainted with armies 
would know must be inevitable — that, while the ofiicers 
and men worked hard to extinguish the flames, "others 
not on duty, including the ofiicers who had long been im- 
prisoned there, rescued by me, may have assisted in 
spreading the fire after it had begun, and may have in- 
dulged in unconcealed joy to see the ruin of the capital 
of South Carolina." This is a matter of course, and 
could not be otherwise with any army, but an army of 
saints, and hardly then, we fear, unless the soldiers had 
more grace than ordinarily good men possess. 



ANECDOTES. 221 

An incident occurred in one of the principal streets, 
characteristic of Sherman. He suddenly came upon some 
of our prisoners who, when the main body of them was 
removed to Charlotte managed to escape, and were hidden 
by the negroes. They now crawled forth from their 
hiding places, to greet the old flag, and sent up loud cheers 
for Sherman. The latter took each tattered, wan fellow 
by the hand, and shaking it warmly, bade him welcome 
back again to the arms of his brave old comrades. Here, 
or at Raleigh, another curious incident occurred. An 
inmate of the Lunatic Asylum, formerly from Massachu- 
setts, came to him, requesting him to make out his papers. 
Sherman put him off with a vague promise, telling the 
poor lunatic to put his trust in God, who would take care 
of him. The latter looked up doubtingly, when Sherman 
kindly asked him if he did not believe in a Divine Provi- 
dence, that had power to protect him. The old man hesi- 
tated a moment, then fixing an earnest look on him replied 
hesitatingly, " Why, yes, I believe in a sort of Divine 
Providence^ but as to powei\ I think a man who has been 
tramping over the country whipping these cursed rebels, 
has more power than any body that I know of." 

Having destroyed all the public buildings except the 
State capitol, and leavnig enough provisions behind to 
sustain, tor some time, the homeless population of the 
place, he moved his superb force north, followed by a vast 
horde of negroes and refugees. 

The army being spread out as much as possible, in 
order to obtain forage, it moved over the fertile country 
like the locusts of Egypt. A garden was before them, a 
desert behind them. The inhabitants of this part of the 
State had seen but little of the Yankees, and the steady 
on-pouring columns, with their long trains, filled them 



222 MAJOR-GENERAL SHERMAN. 

with unbounded astonishment, while the woods and fields 
far and near rang with music it was thought would never 
be heard there. "John Brown's Soul is Marching on," 
"Rally round the Flag," interspersed on Sabbath days 
with " Old Hundred," and " Hail Columbia," filled the 
air with strange melody to these " sons of the chivalry." 

Beauregard, as we have noticed, with his army and 
prisoners had retired to Charlotte, whither Cheatam was 
making his way from Augusta, to join him. 

Wynnesboro, northwest from Columbia, was reached 
on the 21st of February — Kilpatrick's cavalry all this 
time well out on the left. It now seemed plain to Beau- 
regard that Sherman would keep on north to Charlotte, 
and thence to Danville, and for aught he knew, strike 
through the rough country to Lynchburg. In fact, a 
general so apparently eccentric, and so totally bewildering 
in his movements, might take it in his head to go any- 
where; hence he could think of no safer course than to 
draw in his forces, and concentrate them at Charlotte. 
Heavy rains now began to set in, yet for two days Sher- 
man kept on northwesterly toward Charlotte, the sun 
each morning rising over the right shoulders of the army. 
It seemed prol^able that he would persevere in this course, 
for the streams on this route were not so defensible as to 
the east ; but on the 2od, the army suddenly swung on a 
grand right wheel, and turning its face to the rising sun, 
moved rapidly off toward Fayetteville. Through the pelt- 
ting northeast storm, beating in their faces — over the 
rocky country, or floundering through swamps — wading 
or swimming rivers here, and spanning them with pon- 
toons there, the army like a mighty athlete kept on its re- 
sistless way, regardless of storm and mud and swollen 
streams and foes alike. Bivouacking in the dripj)ing pine 



FAYETTE VILLE REACHED. 223 

forests, or on the bleak hill side, seemed alike to these 
thrice hardened veterans. Once across the Catawba, Sher- 
man struck for the Pedee at Cheraw. Nearly a hundred 
years ago those streams presented an elFectual barrier to 
Cornwallis in pursuit of Greene, but now, though swollen 
and angry floods, they were no obstruction to this indomi- 
table man, who seemed to heed the forces of nature no 
more than those of man. 

In the mean time the news reached the army, that 
Charleston was evacuated, and our flag flying over the 
ruined ramparts of Fort Sumter. 

The rebels made a stand atCheraw, but were swept 
aAvay like chaff by the tempest, leaving twenty-five can- 
non in Sherman's hands. Here the left and right wings 
met for the first time since leaving Savannah. 

Now marching in the clear sunlight, and again breast- 
ing all day long a deluge of rain, the army toiled forward, 
and on the 12th of March reached Fayetteville. Here 
was an arsenal, and all the appliances for manufacturing 
war material for the enemy, which were soon a mass of 
ruins. 

Previous to reaching the place, Sherman had des- 
patched trusty scouts to Wilmington, ninety miles distant, 
to announce his near approach ; and the same day that 
the heads of his columns appeared on the banks of Cape 
Fear Piver, the United States tug Davidson, arrived 
from Wilmington, bringing news from the outer world, 
and opening communication with Terry. Her advent 
was hailed with shouts by the soldiers. 

After a few hours' delay, she was sent back with 
despatches fi-om Sherman to Terry at Wilmington, and 
Schofield at Newbern, telling them that on the 15th, he 
should start for Goldsboro, and expected to be there in 



224 MAJOR-GENERAL SHERMAN. 

about, five days, and directing them to move straight for 
the same place, and join him there. The planting of 
these armies on the sea-board was a wise provision, for 
Sherman knew he would need them. By his masterly stra- 
tegy and swift marching, he had up to this time managed 
to keep his army between the divided forces of the enemy, 
so that nowhere in his long march, had he found him 
strong; enough to fjive battle. But this was now changed. 
He knew that Beauregard, at Charlotte, had been rein- 
forced by Cheatam and the garrison at Augusta, and 
had had ample time to move round to Raleigh. Har- 
dee, too, had evacuated Charleston in time to keep ahead 
of him, and was moving to the same point. It was easy 
for Johnston and Hoke in North Carolina also to effect a 
junction with these forces, swelling them to a formidable 
army. They being no longer divided, would meet him 
somewhere, he knew, in a desperate battle, which would 
decide the fate of the campaign. 

On the 15th, he again put his army in motion, ascend- 
ing the Cape Fear river with a portion of it, to make the 
rebels believe he was aiming at Raleigh. Goldsboro, the 
point he wished to reach, is not on this river, but on the 
Neuse, farther north, which empties into the sea at New- 
bern. Hardee, Avho had retreated from Fayetteville on 
Sherman's approach, the latter thought from the inspec- 
tion of the map, would make a stand in a narrow swampy 
neck between Cape Fear and South rivers. His conjec- 
ture proved correct, for here Kilpatrick found him, and 
sent back for Slocum, who coming up fought the battle 
of Averysboro, defeating the rebels. Our loss was not 
over six hundred, while from the number of the rebel 
dead left on the field, that of the enemy must have been 
double. 



BATTLE OF BENTONVILLE. 



225 



The next day this portion of the army stopped its 
feint on Raleigh, and making a right wheel, moved off 
toward Bentonville, to the northeast, whither in a direct 
line, Howard was marching; "wallowing," as Sherman 
expressed it, "in the miry roads." 

On the 18th, Slocum was five miles from the place, 
and Howard farther east, only a short distance off. The 
next day, Sherman, not dreaming that the enemy in any 
force was near, left Slocum, and rode across the country 
to see Howard. He had gone, however, only about six 
miles, when he heard the heavy roar of artillery behind 
him, in the direction of Slocum ; but one of the latter 's 
staff officers soon overtook him, saying, that it Avas 
merely an affair between Carlin's division and the rebel 
cavalry, and that the latter were being driven. Soon 
after, however, other officers arrived, telling him that 
Slocum had suddenly come upon the whole of Johnston's 
army. He immediately sent back word to Slocum to 
stand on the defensive until he could hurry up troops to 
his help. His staff were soon flying with the speed of 
wind over the country, one pushing for Blairs corps, 
others for the three divisions of the Fifteenth corps. 
While thus standing on the road and writing his orders, 
couriers came dashing up from both Schbfield and Terry. 
Despatches were immediately sent back for them to push 
on toward Goldsboro. Another order directed Blair to 
make a night march to Falling Creek Church, and 
another to Howard, to move without his wagons at day- 
light on Bentonville. The gallant Slocum, however, had 
in the meantime deployed his line of battle, and in posi- 
tion received like a rock six successive assaults of the com- 
bined forces of Hoke, Hardee, and Cheatam, under John- 
ston. By next evening Howaixl was up, and the rebel 

15 



226 MAJOR-GENERAL SHERMAN. 

leader, behind his intrenchments, saw himself confronted 
by a line cf battle it would be in vain to dash against. 
A portion of Howard's troops had marched twenty-five 
miles on empty stomachs. Some hard fighting for posi- 
tion now took jAace ; but Sherman finally got everything 
as he wanted it. He did not wish at this point or junc- 
ture to make an assault or bring on a pitched battle, and 
so the rainy, gloomy day wore away in heavy skirmish- 
ing and severe fighting in different parts of the line. At 
night Johnston retreated. 

The battle was emphatically Slocum's. He reported 
between twelve and thirteen hundred loss ; Howard, on 
the right, four hundred ; while the latter buried a hundred 
rebel dead, and took nearly thirteen hundred prisoners. 

Goldsboro now lay at Sherman s feet. Directing the 
cavalry and Howard to remain that day on the field and 
bur}^ the dead, he gave orders for all the armies to move 
the next day to the camps assigned them around Golds- 
boro. He himself rode back to Cox''s Bridge to meet 
Terry, and the next day entered Goldsboro, where he 
found Schofield already arrived. 

The point for which he started when he left Atlanta 
the autumn before, was at last reached, and the campaign 
virtually ended." And what a march it had been. A de- 
solated tract of country, forty miles wide, and between 
two and three hundred miles long, across the State of 
Georgia ; and then one equally wide and far more deso- 
late, for nearly five hundred miles, to the heart of North 
Carolina, marked its line of progress. For two months 
he had been shut up in .a hostile country. 

Sherman now gave the army to the 10th of April to 
rest and refit, preparatory to the next move. Quarter- 
master-General Meigs came down, and in a fortnight 



VISIT TO GRANT. 227 

20,000 men were supplied with shoes, and 100,000 with 
clothing and everything necessary for another campaign. 
On all the slopes around Goldsboro, in the solemn pine 
forests and spreading fields, the tents of the army were 
pitched, and the toil-worn veterans took a long holiday. 

In the meantime, Sherman turned over the army to 
Schofield, and went to City Point to meet Grant, where 
he also saw the President, who welcomed him with the 
greatest cordiality. Grant here informed him of his in- 
tended movement on Dinwiddle Court House, and direct- 
ed him to co-operate with him in that direction. On the 
return of the latter to Goldsboro, he immediately, in 
accordance with this plan, issued his orders to move to- 
wards Weldon, and the line of the Roanoke. He was just 
i-eady to start, when the news of the fall of Petersburg 
and Richmond reached him. As the glorious tidings 
passed through the camps, shout after shout went up, till 
the heavens rang again. 

Of course this new aspect of affairs caused a change 
in Sherman's plans. Co-operation with Grant was now 
useless, and he at once turned his attention to Johnston. 
On the 10th, therefore, he took up his line of march for 
Smithfield, where the latter lay. As he advanced, the 
enemy retired towards Raleigh, destroying the bridges on 
the way. Sherman followed, and on the 13th received 
the news of Lee's surrender. It flew like wild-fire through 
the army, which went crazy with excitement. Cheer 
succeeded cheer, and shout followed shout. When tired 
with expressing their joy in this form, the soldiers began 
to yeU, 1 ill -pandemonium seemed broken loose. Sherman 
was almost as much excited as his brave troops, and in 
deep exultation exclaimed, "Glory to God and our glori- 
ous country." 



228 MAJOR-GENERAL SHERMAN. 

The troops now moved forward Avith elastic tread 
skirmishing as the columns advanced, with the enemy. 
But the boom of artillery that daj^, along the front, 
sounded to their ears more like the salvos of artillery on 
a Fourth of July morning, than the prelude to battle, 
That night the army rested within fourteen miles of 
Raleigh. 

On the 14th, Sherman entered the place. Envoys 
had previously reached him from the city, which he sent 
back with assurances that the property of the citizens 
should be protected. Here he halted a short time, and 
then prepared to follow up Johnston. The latter, on the 
15th, sent a letter to him, asking if some arrangement 
could not be made to prevent the further useless effusion 
of blood. Sherman replied that he was ready to listen to 
any terms, looking to a cessation of hostilities. Johnston 
then requested a personal interview, and the next day at 
noon, the two met upon the road ; aiid, advancing, shook 
hands as cordially as though they were old friends meet- 
ing after a long separation, instead of enemies, who had for 
a year been seeking each other's destruction. They then 
adjourned to a neighboring farm-house for consultation, 
while their respective staffs fell into friendly conversation. 
Already had war begun to smooth his rugged brow. 
Johnston, dressed in a grey uniform, ^vith a beard and 
moustache of snowy whiteness, pj-esented a striking ap- 
[)earance. He asked for four days' cessation of hostilities, 
which Sherman refused to grant, and a meeting for the 
next day was fixed upon. They met at the same hour, 
attended by their spleiididl}- mounted staffs, and courte- 
ously lifting their hats to each other, shook hands, and 
tlicn dismounted and walked togetlier to the farm-house. 
Breckenridge was present on this day, and terms of surrender 



THE ARMISTICE. 229 

were offered, which embraced other than military mat- 
ters, and Sherman, not feeling authorized to deal with 
them, consented to an armistice till they could be for- 
warded to Washington. 

These the government refused to accept, and sent 
General Grant down to assume direction of affairs. He 
arrived on the 25th, and Johnston finally surrendered 
on the same terms that had been granted to Lee. 

Sherman knew that an armistice of forty-eight 
hours, during which botb armies were to remain in 
precisely the same position they then occupied, could 
make no possible change in the final result, and con- 
sented to it till the terms could be sent to Washington. 
It was a very simple affair and would have scarcely ex- 
cited a remark but for the extraordinary silly fuss made 
over it by the Secretaiy of War. 

But instead of stating that the terms were inadmis- 
sible and directing Sherman to resume hostilities, he 
gave to the public nine reasons why the terms could 
not be agreed to ; it was a charge against Sherman — ^an 
accusation that almost implied disloyalty. It seemed 
uttered on purpose to wound and humble him in the 
very hour of triumph. Under the excitement caused 
by the President's assassination, the public mind was 
unreasoning and wild, and jumped to the conclusion 
that Sherman had made a final settlement with John- 
ston disgraceful to the nation ; when he had simply 
sent to Washington the propositions that had been 
oft'ered. Halleck, in his despatches to the di,fferent 
commanders in Sherman's department, directing thera 
to pay no attention to the armistice, pai'took of the 
same spirit as that which characterized the document 
of the Secretary of War. The press took up the cry, 



230 MAJOR-GENERAL SHERMAN. 

till an impartial observer would have inferred that we 
had suddenly discovered one of our greatest Generals 
to be a traitor, and that, instead of ovations, arrest and 
imprisonment awaited him. All this was brought 
about by the indiscreet, undignified display of Mr. 
Stanton's ardent patriotism — a patriotism so intense 
and absorbing that it made him forget the high position 
he occupied. Not satisfied with this exhibition of his 
peculiar devotion to his country, he gave to the public 
a telegram, which he had formerly sent to Grant — im- 
plying that Sherman had seen it and had instructions 
respecting the course he was expected to pursue. 

The latter, in his straightforward way, says, " Now 
I was not in possession of it, and I have reason to know 
that Mr. Stanton knew that I was not in possession of 
it.'' This was a very grave charge, but one that Mr. 
Stanton never saw fit to fully meet. 

We have not space to go fully into this disgraceful 
affaii' ; but for the sake of those who wish to see a 
thorough vindication of General Sherman, we refer 
them to the documents in full ("■ General Sherman's 
Memoirs,'^ p. 217). 

Sherman felt deeply wounded by this unwarrantable 
attack upou him b}^ the Secretar}^ of War, backed up 
by the press, as well he might. Chase, in a manly 
spirit, took occasion at this particular crisis to contrib- 
ute to the fund being raised to give Sherman a house, 
accompanying it with a generous note, in which he ex- 
pressed his high admiration of his character and deeds. 

This man, who for four long years had been peril- 
ing his life on the battle-field — lifting, by his genius 
and triumphs, his country to the highest pinnacle of 
military renown, and carrying it forward to the haven 



l>tJBLlC INGRATITUDE. 231 

of peace, was assailed with a virulence that in after 
years will appear like a farce, except for the memory 
of the grief that it brought to a noble, loyal heart. 
True to his country's interests, he would not leave his 
post, even to follow the corpse of his favorite boy, that 
bore his own name, to his distant grave in Ohio, but, 
with breaking heart, saw it depart with his mother 
alone, then turned to his army with the order "For- 
ward." Toilsome days and sleepless nights had been 
passed, hardships untold endured, death in every shape 
encountered, yet he had pressed on over all obstacles, 
till his victorious banners attracted the gaze of the 
world and brought hope and joy to his country ; and 
just when his toils were ended, and the crushing care 
that for four years had weighed him down was lifting 
from his heart, and the smile of complete success was 
wreathing his countenance, he was assailed with the 
bitterness of a deadly foe. How, then, must have come 
back to him the pregnant maxim, "^Republics are %in- 
grateful^ What a mournful echo there is in the words 
he uses when speaking of those "men who sleep in 
comfort and security while we watch on the distant 
lines." Aye, watching, sleeplessly watching, " on the 
distant lines," only to be the more traduced by those 
whom no motive could induce to shoulder a musket. 

But history will right this matter ; and though Mr. 
Stanton, if lie had lived long enough, would have been- 
compelled to have read over his whole record by a dif- 
ferent light, and to a different auditory, no pai't of it 
would have been more difficult to get over than that 
which narrates his treatment of Sherman. 

With the return of peace his army was ordered 
home. Scorning the proffered hospitalities of Halleck 



232 MAJOR-GENERAL SHERMAN. 

at Richmond, he marched sternly forward at the head 
of his columns. 

As he rode in front of his veterans through the 
streets of Washington, the deafening hurrahs that 
greeted him showed that the heart of the people was 
right. Afterwards, all along the route to the West, his 
headquarters at St. Louis, the crowds and shouts that 
welcomed him gave him the same pleasing assurance. 

In the appoiniaient of Grant as General of the 
army, Sherman, in July, 1869, w^as promoted to Lieu- 
tenant-General. Sherman succeeded him as General 
with quarters at Washington. Two years after he 
made a professional tour in Europe, and was every- 
where received with the greatest distinction, for his 
fame had preceded him. He was absent a year. Two 
years after his return, at his own request, he w^as placed 
on the retired list in order to let Sheridan take his 
place. This was an act of generosity and magnanimity 
seldom witnessed in this world of ambitious men. 

Among the many honors he has received may be 
mentioned the degree of LL.D. conferred by the colleges 
of Yale, Dartmouth, Harvard and Princeton. He fin- 
ally settled down to the quiet life of an American 
citizen in New York City, where he is a universal 
favorite and his presence sought to grace and give eclat 
on various public occasions, and where his appearance 
4s always greeted with the acclamations of the people. 

HIS CHARACTER. 

In personal appearance, Sherman exhibits but few 
of the traits popularly ascribed to a hero, for he is, on 
the whole, a plain-looking man. Though nearly six feet 
in height, with a somewhat lean, though muscular frame, 



HIS CHARACTER. 233 

his appearance has nothing commanding in it. He is a 
bundle of nerves, which make him quick in his move- 
ments, and very restless. His eyes, which are of a light 
brown, are restless as his body, and have a sharp, piero> 
ing expression. The firm manner in which his lips close 
indicates his firmness and decision of character. Careless 
of his personal appearance, he usually wears a dingy uni- 
form — the coat never buttoned, and the vest only by the 
lower button. " Old Sam," his favorite horse, when he 
gives the order "forward" to battle, is a tremendous 
walker, and moves off into shot and shell as unconcern- 
edly as his master. Like Grant, he is an inveterate 
smoker, but evidently does not enjoy a cigar like him. 
The former will smoke slowly, leaning back in his chair, 
his whole appearance indicating repose and perfect con- 
tentment. Sherman, on the contrary, smokes as though 
he were under obligations to finish his cigar as s])eedily as 
possible. The puffs come fast and furious, and shoot 
from his mouth as though he were firing off a pistol. 
Every few moments he snatches it from his lips, and 
brushes off the ashes, as if he wanted to see how near 
through with it he had got. He is abrupt and rapid in 
conversation, shingling his sentences one on to the 
other, and never scruples to interrupt one, though he does 
not like to be interrupted himself. In the field, he hates 
long stories, and cuts short a report the moment he gets 
the substance of it. He is perhaps too brusque in his 
manner to be pleasant, but it is not a fault of temper — it 
is a peculiarity always connected with a temperament like 
his. A nature which will never let a man keep still does 
not exhibit itself in rounded, graceful forms and curves. 
A man who, when he has nothing else to do, will beat a tat- 
too with his fingers on a chair or window, or whittle for 



234 MAJOR-GENERAL SHERMAN. 

want of occupation, is always one of sharp angles. With 

him, as with all nervous men of great mental st/ength, 

danger acts apparently as a sedative. In a terrible crisis, 

or when ridino; alono- the ed^e of battle, his manner be- 
to & o ■ 

comes toned down. In such moments, the nervous sys- 
tem gets wound up so tightly, that each nerve seems made 
of -wire. 

He has a constitution of iron, which neither cold nor 
rain, nor heat, nor miasma, seems to affect. 

Ever on the alert, his first act when roused from repose 
by the distant sound of cannon and musketry, is usually 
to light a segar. If the firing increases, he mounts " Old 
Sam," and rides forward to the front, where, leaving his 
horse in the care of an orderly, he walks toward the spot 
where the volleys are heaviest. 

But with all his abruptness and curtness of manner, 
Sherman is at times a very social man, and enters into a 
frolic with great zest. 

His scorn of pretence, mock philanthrop}^, and as- 
sumed piety, and of all shams, is intense and unbounded. 
Straightforward, and without hypocrisy himself, he hates 
duplicity in others. He is naturally cautious and suspi- 
cious, for he finds few men open and undisguised as him- 
self. He has a keen penetration of character, and quickly 
sounds the depth of those xnth whom he comes in con- 
tact. His heart is kind as it is great, and in talking witli 
children, all the stern lines of his face disappear. He is 
a warm friend, but at the same time a good hater. His 
memory of persons and details is wonderful, and like 
Bonaparte, he knows everything that is going on in his 
army. 

As a military man, Sherman has few equals in the 
world, and he possesses all the qualities that go to make 



HIS CHARACTER. 235 

Qp a great commander. He has that peculiarity of 
Bonaparte which gave him such tremendous power ; great 
rapidity of thought, and yet correctness of conclusion. 
His mind moves with the speed of lightning, and yet 
with the accuracy and steadiness of naked reason. So 
swiftly does he rush to conclusions, that many of his 
friends seem to think he arrives at them by intuition. 
He can decide quickly and correctly too. He unites two 
opposite natures in one, the careful, methodical man, with 
the quick and impetuous one. This power of thinking 
quickly and correctly too, is a tremendous one. It allows 
the possessor of it to be executing plans, while his enemy 
is forming them. 

To a courage that no danger can daunt, and an 
energy that nothing can tire, and a perseverance that will 
not admit of defeat, there is added in him a profound 
strategic skill. His power of combination is wonderful. 
He can embrace vast fields and almost innumerable 
contingencies in his plans, and yet reduce the latter to a 
simplicity that makes one forget the power which was 
required to do it. 

He alone, of all our generals, has cut loose from some 
of the established rules of military science, and yet suc- 
ceeded. Operating with a large army successfully, a hun- 
dred miles or more from its base, has been regarded an 
impossibility. Yet he did this in his Atlanta campaign. 
Cutting entirely loose from any base, and swinging off 
into open air and becoming an independent machine, fight- 
ing, foraging and marching all the time in an enemy's 
country, has ^been regarded still more impossible. Yet 
he did that in his Georgia and Carolina campaigns ; nearly 
two months at a time swallowed up in a hostile country, 
and yet at the end emerging into view with men and 



236 MAJOR-GENERAL SHERMAN. 

animals in a better condition than when he stalled. 
These campaigns, like the first Napoleon's in Italy, wiL. 
furnish a new study for the military scholar for a century 
to come. Sherman also handles a great army with won- 
derful facility. Still, like Grant, he has grown to his 
present stature. Both at Pittsburg Landing, were very 
different men from what they are now. Sherman, how- 
ever, has true genius, though not of tliat peculiar 
kind which enables a man to mount with a single stride 
to the highest position, and fill it. The world furnishes 
but few such. The only difierence between common and 
great men, is, that the latter can grow to any responsi- 
bility or requirement of life, and the former cannot. One 
rises with events, the other sinks under them; one con- 
trols them, the other is mastered b}- them. 

Some call him ambitious, such natures always are; 
but Sherman's ambition can never override his patriotism 
or love of right and truth. His love of country is intense, 
while many of his letters and expressed views show that 
he could serve it just as ably in a civil as in a military 
capacity. 



CHAPTER XI. 

MAJOR-GENERAL JAMES B. McPHERSON. 

HIS WORTH AT FIRST NOT APPRECIATED — HIS BIRTfi — ENTERS WEST POINT — 
GRADUATES AT THE HEAD OP HIS CLASS AND APPOINTED ASSISTANT IN- 
STRUCTOR OP PRACTICAL ENGINEERING — TRANSFERRED TO NEW YORK 
HiRBOR — CHARGED WITH THE CONSTRUCTION OP FORT DELAWARE— SENT 
TO SUPERINTEND THE FORTIFICATIONS BEING ERECTED IN THE BAY OP 
SAN FRANCISCO — ORDERED HOME AND SENT TO BOSTON HARBOR — ERRONE- 
OUS VIEWS — PLACED ON THE STAFF OP HALLECK — HIS PROMOTION — 
SENT TO AID ROSECRANS — A SUCCESSFUL EXPEDITION FROM LA GRANGE — 
UNDER GRANT IN NORTHERN MISSISSIPPI — COMIMANDS THE SEVENTEENTH 
CORPS IN THE CAMPAIGN AGAINST VICKSBURG — HIS GALLANT CONDUCT — 
CAPTURE OP JACKSON— CHAMPION HILLS— ASSAULT OF VICKSBURG — THE 
SURRENDER — PLACED OVER THE ARMY OP THE TENNESSEE — DEFERS HIS 
MARRIAGE — HIS SERVICES IN THE ATLANTA CAMPAIGN — TERRIBLE FIGHT 
BEFORE ATLANTA — HIS DEATH— GRANT'S LETTER TO HIS GRAND- 
MOTHER — HIS CHARACTER. 

There is no officer Ik this war who has risen to the 
first rank of generals so quietly and unostentatiously as 
McPherson. The country hardly knew of him until it 
discovered that he stood next to the hearts of both Grant 
and Sherman. And what is more singular, the South 
knew of his military worth before the North, He had 
hardly been heard of when the Southern papers attributed 
Grant's wonderful campaign against Vicksburg to his 
genius alone. With no correspondents to write up his 
deeds, he rose to renown in the army before • he had any 
reputation among the [)eople ; great there before the out 



238 MAJOR-GENERAL JAMES B. MoPHERSON. 

side world knew of him. No politician pushed his claims 
to preferment — no powerful friends at coiu:'t paraded his 
great qualities, in order to obtain for him an important 
command, and no sudden brilliant success lifted him into 
governmental favor. By silent merit alone he steadily, 
unobtrusively climbed the ladder of fame, till a major- 
generaFs stars graced his shoulders. Over six feet high, 
erect and noble, he \ras every inch a soldier, and eacli 
step m his upward career was planted on solid worth, 
which was not fully apjDreciated until he had passed away 
forever. 

Of Scotch descent, James Birdseye McPherson was 
born in Sandusky Co., Ohio, on the 14th of November, 
1828. But little is known of his childhood, which seem- 
ed to give no striking indications of his after greatness. 
Of a military turn of mind, he yet did not succeed in 
getting into West Point until he reached the last year of 
age, that they are permitted to enter, viz., twenty-one. 
In the Military Academy, however, his great qualities 
at once became apparent. In the fourth class of 1850 
he stood second, and in the second class of 1852, first, 
and the next year graduated at the head of his class. 
This was a high honor, showing a scholarship that the 
authorities could not well overlook, and McPherson was 
breveted second lieutenant of Engineers, and at once 
appointed Assistant Instructor of Practical Engineering, 
at the Academy, " a compliment never before, nor since, 
awarded to so young an officer." He remained in this 
position for one year, and then was made Assistant En 
gineer on the defences of New York harbor, and in the 
improvements of the Hudson river, below Albany. He 
continued to be engaged in this work until the winter of 
1857, and is still remembered by many of the citizens in 



SERVES IN CALIFORNIA. 239 

and near Albany for his unostentatious bearing and kind- 
ness of heart. In 1855 he was made full second lieu- 
tenant. 

From the Hudson he was transferred to the Delaware 
river, charged with the construction of Fort Delaware, 
where he remained till July of that year. He was then 
despatched to California to superintend the erection of 
the fortihcations on Alcatras Island, in San Francisco 
hiiy^ and was also connected with the survey of the Pa- 
cific coast. The next winter, in December, 1858, he was 
made first lieutenant. 

He remained in California several years, and was still 
on duty there when tlie war broke out. His great ability 
as an engineer seemed to obscure his other military quali- 
ties, or rather it might be said that at the outset of the 
war the Government seemed to think we should not need 
engineers. The country thought so too, and General 
Scott was ridiculed for throwing up such elaborate de- 
fences in front of Washington. Mathematical science 
was certainly at a great discount, and the spade voted by 
common consent an instrument fit only for less enlightr 
ened times. West Point education was considered any- 
thin"- but a recommendation, and the war was o'oing; to 
demonstrate it to be an institution of the past — a sort of 
red tape afl:air that would be eifectually exploded. 

It is not to be wondered at, that in such a state of 
public feeling, a man like McPherson sliould be over- 
looked, while many a lawyer, and merchant, and school- 
master, Avere honored with shoulder straps. 

Instead, therefore, of being ordered home to assume 
a high position in the army assembling at Washington, 
he was sent to Boston harbor to take charge of its forti- 
fications. He indeed received a slight promotion, being 



240 MAJOR-GENERAL JAMES B. MoPHERSON; 

made this month junior captain of his company. But 
when Halleck took charge of the Western Depart,ment, 
McPherson was chosen his aid-de-camp, and promoted 
to the rank of lieutenant-colonel. By what lucky cir- 
cumstance this was brought about, we are not informed, 
but certain it is, General Halleck, unknoAvn to himself, 
had on his staff one greater than himself McPherson, 
however, saw but little field service, being chiefly engaged 
on engineer duty in Missouri, till the beginning of 1862. 
But when Grant began his movements on Forts Henry 
and Donelson, he was made chief engineer. For his 
services in these expeditions, he was nominated brevet- 
major of engineers, remaining with Grant till after the 
battle of Pittsburg Landing. In this action he was on 
the staff, and for the ser\dces he rendered received honor- 
able mention, and was nominated for brevet lieutenant- 
colonel of engineers. Thus it is seen his promotion was 
v'ery slow, and won by hard work. The next May he 
was elevated to the grade of colonel on the staff. 

While Halleck was making his slow methodical ap- 
proaches against Corinth, McPherson su})erintended the 
engineering department. Though in carrying out the 
plans of his commander he exhibited great skill, and 
made every step the former took safe and firm, had he 
been in chief command, he would have done less engineer- 
ing and more lighting. He was now made brigadier- 
o-eneral of volunteers. Once fairlv in the field, his orreat 
qualities became so apparent to his immediate command- 
ers, that the higher he rose in rank, the more useful he 
was to them ; and hence they urged his promotion, which 
now went on rapidly. On Halleck's call to the chief com- 
mand of all our armies, Grant took his place in the West, 
and made McPherson superintendent of all the United 



SENT TO AID ROSECRANS. 241 

States military railroads in the Department of West 
Tennessee. When the former moved on luka in con- 
junction with Rosecrans, the latter served on his s1aff. 
Shortly after, Price, Van Dorn, and Lovell, suddenly 
concentrated their forces against Corinth, designing to 
cut off the army from its supplies by railroad. Rose- 
crans commanded here, and was greatly outnumbered b}- 
the enemy. Grant, alarmed for his safety, ordered Mc- 
Pherson to take a division and hasten to his relief The 
former moved rapidly forward in a forced march, and as 
he approached the place, the heavy thunder of artillery, 
breaking over the woods, announcing the danger of the 
garrison, quickened his steps, and "forward, forward," 
rang along his swiftly marching columns. Before he 
reached Corinth, however, the fleeing fugitives told him 
that Rosecrans had repulsed the enemy; and forcing his 
way through the disordered lines, he marched with one 
brigade into the place. Rosecrans, who had ridden all 
along his victorious lines in the flush of victory, found 
him, as he wheeled back into Corinth, with his brioade 
drawn up in the public square. He innnediately ordered 
him to take the advance, and follow up the retreating en- 
emy. He did so, and pushing over the broken country, 
day after day hung like an avenging angel on the rear of 
the rebel army, till shattered and broken, it fled in dis- 
jointed fragments in every direction. 

He was now made major-general of volunteers, to date 
h-om October 8th. Though young, being but thirt}'- three 
years of age, he had shown a discretion and skill that 
marked him for high command, and from this time his 
movements began to arrest the public eye. With his 
headquarters at Bolivar, he at once commenced to reoro-an- 
ize his command, and place it in advantageous positions 
16 



242 MAJOR-GENERAL JAMES B. McPHERSON. 

about the place. Price, recovering from his terrible pun- 
ishment at Corinth, began now to reassemble his forces 
at different points, and Grant, informed of it, directed 
McPherson to occupy Lagrange. This was in Novem- 
ber, and he moved on the place so secretly and rapidly, 
that the heads of his columns as they entered it saw the 
rebel cavalry which had been occupying it dashing pell- 
mell over the fields and along the roads, in the wildest dis- 
may. He established his headquarters here, and the 
same day Grant arrived. 

On the 11th, the latter ordered him to get in readiness 
a division of infantry, and a respectable cavalry force, as 
he wanted him to go on a reconnoissance of great importr 
ance and peculiar danger. McPherson was ready next 
morning, and moving off to the southward, by noon had 
marched eight miles, reaching the vicinity of Lamar, a 
small village, within a mile of which the cavalry engaged 
the enemy. Hearing the firing he spurred to the front., 
and rapidl}' surveying the field, deployed his column, and 
soon began to press the main line of the rebel army. 
Though greatly outnumbered, he, by the position he se- 
lected, held the enemy at bay, while he sent his cavalry 
in a wide detour to the left, with directions to get com- 
pletely in the rebel rear before making an attack. In the 
meantime, he maintained the battle in front. The move- 
ment of the cavalry was successful, and soon their bugles 
rang out far in the rear, followed by the shout of the 
charging squadrons. Alarmed at this sudden apparition 
in their rear, the enemy rushed forward in confusion into 
a cotton field, when McPherson fell suddenl v on their flank, 
and in an impetuous charge, crumbled their entu^e line 
to pieces. The dismayed rebels turned and fled to Holly 
Springs, carrying to the army there the startling report 



A SUCCESSFUL ENTERPRISE. 243 

that Grant''s whole army was upon them. Directing the 
infantry to advance slowly and cautiously, McPherson 
put himself at the head of the cavalry, and pressed for- 
ward after the broken columns. He kept on till he came 
within a few miles of the rebel camp, when he drew up 
on an eminence, and taking out his field-glass, leisurely 
surveyed the hostile force, now forming in order of battle 
under the impression that Grant with his whole army 
was advancing to the attack. After having ascertained 
all that he was sent to find out, he quietly countermarched, 
and returned to Lagrange. 

In this important enterprise he had been left to his 
own judgment entirely, as to the best mode of carrying 
out the object sought to be secured, and the result showed 
that the trust was well reposed. 

This was his first battle, in which he had chief com- 
mand, and the skill with which he handled his troops, and 
selected his positions and mode of attack, and the vigor 
with which he pressed his success, stamped him at 
once as a leader of uncommon ability. There was a de- 
cision and promptness in all his movements that showed 
a thorough knowledge of his profession, and a perfect 
comprehension of the difficulties and capabilities of a field 
of action. 

In the combined movement of Grant and Sherman 
against Vicksburg that followed, McPherson held an im- 
portant command. While Sherman moved down tlifi 
Mississippi from Memphis, Grant, as it is known, str.ick 
inland into Northern Mississippi, designing to capture 
Jackson, forty-five miles back from the place, and thus 
keep reinforcements from l)eing thrown into it, to repel 
Sherman's attack. McPherson was given command of 
the right wing, which had the advance in the march. 



244 MAJOR-GENERAL JAMES B. McPIIERSON. 

The shameful surrender of Holly Springs put a sudden 
stop to Grant's movement, and he wlieeled about and re- 
traced his steps, leaving Sherman to dash in vain against 
the strong works of Vicksburg. 

This countermarch took place in December, amid tor- 
rents of rahi, which made the fields and roads (juagmires, 
while the enemy continually harassed the rear, and hung 
threateningly along our flanks. As McPherson was given 
t he post of danger in the advance, so now it was assigned 
him in the retreat — he being made commander of the 
rear guard. Over the soft and flooded tields, and along 
the almost bottomless roads, the army slowly moved, the 
soldiers, angry and muttering at the cowardice of the 
commander of Holly Springs, which caused this long and 
useless march in midwinter, on half rations, and by many 
of them without shoes. McPherson, however, kept up a 
cheerful countenance, hardly leaving the saddle night or 
day, and by his example of patient endurance, allayed 
the ferment of the men, and quieted their nuirmurs. 
While cursing others, the soldiers lavished unbounded 
praise on their brave young commander, and soon learned 
to love him Avith supreme devotion. ^ 

Grant now commenced that series of movements 
which finally resulted in the capture of Vicksburg. In 
the outset, he divided his army into four cor[)s, one of 
Avhich, the Seventeenth, was given to McPhers(jn, and 
under him acquired a renown that will live for ever in 
history. 

When he finally crossed the Mississippi below Grand 
Gulf, and began his march inland, McPherson was his 
right-hand man. He took part in the battle of Port 
Gibson, and bridging Bayou Pierre, pressed rapidly after 
the retreating enemy, whom he overtook at Raymond, 



A BRILLIANT CHARGE. 245 

posted in a strong position. Knowing, as well as his 
leader, that swift victories alone conld save the army, he 
did not wait for sti-ategic movements, bnt hi one headlong 
charge broke the rebel line into fragments, losing over 
tour hundred in the onset. Gathering up his dead and 
wounded he ke[)t on towards Jackson, marching oii the 
14th twelve miles through a blinding, [)itiless storm. 
At ten o'clock he drew up his drenched army before the 
formidable breastworks of the enemy, -wdio were not only 
strongly protected, but also out-numl)ered him heavily. 
The storm now broke and the s})ring sun shone forth in 
all its splendor, making the rain droj)s on the trees and 
meadows shine like jewels. Awakened by the freshness 
and beauty, the birds came out and tilled the air with 
their gay carols, a rainbow spanned the heavens, and all 
combined to make it a scene of transcendent loveliness. 
Amid this peaceful splendor, McPherson drew up his 
fifteen thousand bayonets, and riding along the glittering 
line on his splendid black charger, aroused the enthusiasm 
of his men by a stirring appeal. As soon as the artillery 
had got into position aud thoroughly searched the hostile 
works, he ordered a charge. At first, slowl)' and with 
measured, steps, as though on a dress parade, the column 
moved over the held, closing up, calmly, the ugly rents 
made by the rebel artillery, and kept sternly on without 
returning a shot till within thirty yards of the works, 
when a sudden flash leaped from the line, followed by a 
cheer that shook the field, and then, with one bound, they 
scaled the ramparts and poured like a resistless flood 
through the hostile camp, scattering every thing trom 
their path, and chasing the flying foe into and through 
Jackson in confusion. 

The next day he wheeled about, and led his weary 



246 MAJOR-GENERAL JAMES B. McPHERPlON. 

troops back towards Vicksburg, and to new victory 
at Champion Hill. His losses had been heavy, and the 
endurance of his troops tested to the utmost ; yet nothing 
coiild dampen their courage, and on the 18 th he planted 
his flag before the rebel city. He joined in the assaults 
of the 19th and 22d, which succeeded only in proving the 
impregnability of the works. Ili the long siege which fol- 
lowed, his corps occupied the centre. His engineering 
skill now had full scope, and under his practised eye, the 
army worked its slow, sure way towards the city. Great 
in the field, he was, if possible, still greater in the trenches. 
In less than two weeks his batteries and sharp-shooters 
had almost silenced the guns in his immediate tront. On 
the 25th of June he sprung a mine under one of the most 
important forts of the enemy, and got partial possession 
of it. It was plain that he would soon dig his way into 
the stronghold. 

The interview between Grant and Pemberton, just 
previous to the surrender, took place in front of his lines, 
and he was one of the two that the former selected to be 
present at the conference. On the 4th of July he led his 
victorious columns into the conquered city, over which he 
was placed in command. 

Grant now recommended him for promotion in the 
regular army, in the following strong language : " He has 
been with me in every ebattle since the commencement of 
the rebellion, except Belmont. At Forts Henry and 
Donelson, Shiloh, and the siege of Corinth, as a staff 
officer and engineer, his services were conspicuous and 
highly meritorious. At the second battle of Corinth, hia 
skill as a soldier was displayed in successfully carrjdng 
reinforcements to the besieged garrison, when the enemy 
was between him and the point to be reached. In the 



EULOGY OF GRANT. 247 

advance through Central Mississippi, General McPherson 
commanded one wing of the army with all the ability 
possible to show, he having the lead in the advance and 
the rear in retiring. 

" In the campaign and siege terminating with the fall 
oi Vicksburg, General McPherson has filled a conspicu- 
ous part. At the battle of Port Gibson it Avas under his 
direction that the enemy was driven late in the afternoon 
trom a position that they had succeeded in holding all 
day against an obstinate attack. His corps, the advance 
always under his immediate eye, Avere the pioneers in the 
movements from Port Gibson to Hankinson's Ferry. 
From the noi'th fork of the Bayou Pierre to Black river 
it was a constant skirmish, the whole skilfully managed. 
The enemy was so closely pursued as to be unable to de- 
stroy their bridge of boats after them. From Hankin- 
son's Ferry to Jackson, the Seventeenth Army Corps 
marched roads not travelled by other troops, fighting the 
entire battle of Paymond alone, and the bulk of John- 
ston's army was fought by this corps, entirely under the 
management of General McPherson. At Champion's 
Hill the Seventeenth Corps and General McPherson were 
conspicuous. All that could be termed a battle there 
was fought by the divisions of General McPherson s Corps 
and General Hovey's division of the Thirteenth Corps. 
In the assault of the 22d of May,* on the fortifications of 
Vicksburg, and during the entire siege, General Mc- 
Pherson and his connnand took unfading lam-els. He is 
one of the ablest eno-ineers and most skilful crenerals. I 
would respectfully but urgently recommend his promo- 
tion to the position of brigadier-general in the regular 
army." We venture to say a warmer endorsement of a 
subordinate by a superior was never made than this. It 



248 MAJOR-GENERAL JAMES B. MoPHERSON. 

shows conclusively, that what of McPherson's services 
reached the public ear, was but the smallest fraction of 
that Avhich he performed. It certainly would have been 
strange, if after such an unqualified eulogium and urgent 
recommendation of the victor of Vicksburo; ConoTess 
had refused to confirm the nomination cheerfully made 
by the President. It did not, and in December he was 
made brigadier-general in the regular army, his commis- 
sion to date back to the first of August. His gallant 
corps also voted him a medal of honor. 

After the surrender of Vicksburg, and while in com- 
mand of the place, McPherson made a dash, in person, 
on the guerillas that were infesting the neighborhood, 
scattering them in every direction. 

' The limits of his military jurisdiction were now en- 
larged, reaching from Helena, Arkansas, to the mouth of 
the lied River. He remained with his headquartei's at 
Vicksburg till February, 1864, when he took the field, 
and bore the brimt of Sherman's great raid to Meridian. 

When Grant was made General-in-Chief, and Sherman 
took his place as i-ommander of the department ol' the 
Mississippi, the army of the Tennessee was left without a 
head, and ]^.IcPhersoii Av^as at once placed over it. He 
now had the Thirteenth and Sixteenth Corps added to 
his noble Seventeenth. 

Being engaged to* be married to a young lady in Bal- 
timore, he was about taking leave of absence to consummate 
the union, when he received this a})pointment. At the 
same time, the great Atlanta campaign was being ' organ- 
ized, in which the Army of the Tennessee was expected 
to bear a conspicuous part. With that self-sacrifice which 
so distinguished him, he postponed the marriage till it 
was completed. Alas, he was desti)ied never again to see 



FLANKS DALTON. 249 

th(3 idol of his heart ! Like the mother of Sisera, she 
would exclaim, " Why stays his chariot, why are his 
chariot wheels so long in coming?" 

McPherson at once began to put his army in condition 
for the perilous campaign before it. His scattered forces 
were called in and organized at Huntsville, Alabama, and 
by the 1st of May he was ready to march. 

When Sherman finally confronted Johnston in his 
impregnable position in the Chattanooga mountains, and 
saw that he must turn it, McPherson was chosen to carry 
out his plan. Throwing his army beyond the mountains 
by Snake Creek Gap, the latter suddenly appeared near 
the railroad at Resaca, in the rebel rear. Had that army 
been a little stronger in numbers, he could have at once 
severed the enemy's communications, and forced Johiiston 
here at the outset into an open, decisive battle, which 
would have virtually ended the cam|)aign. Some blamed 
him for too much caution, asserting that a bold and sud- 
den stroke would have secured the road, and cut off 
the rebel retreat. But want of promptness and daring 
was not one of McPherson's faults. Whatever hesitancy 
he sho^ved, one may be assured was not only proper, but 
that an opposite course would have been criminal. He had 
made a difficult, circuitous march of thirty or forty miles, 
hoping to carry Pesaca by surprise, as Sherman trusted 
he would ; and then, if heavily pressed, fall back to a 
strong, defensive point, ready to dash on the enemj^'s 
flank the moment he attempted to retreat. But the crafty 
Johnston had guarded against this disaster, and McPher- 
son, when he arrived near the [)lace saw that it was too 
strong to be carried by assault, and that the rapid con- 
centration of troops there would certainly overwhelm 
him, and he fell back to Snake Creek Gap, and reported 



250 MAJOR-GENERAL JAMES B, McPHERSON. 

to Slierman the condition of things, who immediately 
sent Hooker s corps to his support. 

McPherson now feeling that he liad sufficient force to 
assume the oiTensive, stormed and carried the enemy's 
works. Stung by this defeat, Johnston threw himself 
with desperate fury upon him, determined to regain the 
lost position. But his efforts were in vain, and he finally 
fell back, leaving the ground in front of McPherson dark 
with the slain. 

The army now moved on, McPherson holding the 
right, and occupied Kinston May 18th; and still push- 
ing forward, at length came upon the enemy turned at 
bay in the Kenesaw Mountains. Here Johnston attacked 
him with a heavy force, but after a most sanguinary 
struggle, was repulsed at all points, with a loss of twenty- 
five hundred men. 

When Sherman, finding that he could not force the 
strong position of Kenesaw Mountain, resorted to his old 
flanking process, he sent McPherson around to the right, 
to the Chattahoochee River. Johnston at once aban- 
doned his impregnable position, and fell back to Atlanta. 
McPherson was now transferred from the right to the 
left, with directions to seize and break up the railroad 
near Decatur, that lay several miles east of Atlanta, and 
thus cut off the direct communication between Lee's 
army at E,ichmond, and Johnston's, now commanded by 
Hood. 

M pherson's death. 

While Thomas, on the 20th, near Peach Tree Creek, 
directly in front of the enemy's works, was assaulted 
with desperate fury by Hood, and narrowly escaped 



HIS DEATH. 251 

serious disaster, McPherson was moving down from De- 
catur eastward, to close around the doomed city from that 
quarter. Hood, having tailed to break through Thomas's 
lines, now determined to repeat the experiment on Mc- 
Pherson, and so the next day but one, gathered up his 
shattered battalions to attack him. Leaving only suffi- 
cient force in the intrencliments to man them, he massed 
his entire army on our left, resolved by mere weight and 
suddenness of onset to break through our lines, which 
were at this terrible juncture in the process of formation. 
The assault was made with their accustomed desperation, 
and at first a part of the army gave way, and for a time 
it seemed as if the enemy would get in McPherson's rear 
and finish the battle with a blow. The onset ^vas one ol" 
the most determined that had been made during the ^var, 
and it was evident that Hood was niakino- a last oreat 
effort to burst the coils that were slowly tightening around 
him. The crowding battalions swept up to the very muz- 
zles of the guns, and at times the standards of the con- 
tending hosts seemed commingled, so close and deadly 
was the embrace. The crash of cannon and roar of mus- 
ketry were incessant and deafening, and the slaughter of 
the enemy frightful. Bent on success, the rebels, reckless 
of life, were hurled back but to return with greater fury 
to the attack. Their lines seemed made of steel, and bent 
backward only to spring with greater force to their place. 
McPherson's black steed flitted like a phantom through 
the smoke of the batteries, the tall form that bestrode it 
towering unhurt amid the devouring tire that steadily 
engulfed the devoted ranks. With the chivalric feeling 
of a knight of old, he was always to be found at the 
point of greatest danger, steadying the wavering, and till- 
ing all with his own high, enthusiastic spirit. Eloquent 



^n^') 



MAJOR-UENERAl. JAMES B. MrPIIERSON. 



only on the battle-field, and always so tliei'e, his words 
rang like a bugle-blast, and his brave battalions closed 
round him in a wall of iron. Thus the battle raged till 
noon, when there came a lull in the contest, and the en- 
emy fell back to gather for a new and more determined 
attack on some other point. At this time the Sixteenth 
Corps stood perpendicular to the main line of battle, and 
facing to the left, so as to cover the ti'ains which the en- 
emy, by swinging round the extremity of the line, might 
reach. Bet^veen it and the Seventeenth Corps there was 
a slight gap which had existed during the whole of the 
hght. This had caused McPlierson considerable uneasi- 
ness ; but under the fierce onsets of the enemy he could 
do nothing more than hold his own. But now he deter- 
mined to close this, for he knew the enemy's next attack 
would be at that vulnerable point; and should he break 
through, nothing could save him from defeat. Tliis gap 
consisted of a piece of wood, through which there ran 
but a single country road; the only direct way by which 
he could reach the left, of the Seventeenth Corps, and 
give the necessary directions to meet the approaching at- 
tack. He could have got to the desired spot by going to 
the rear and making a wide circuit, but this would have 
taken him over a broken country, and across ravines and 
streams, and impeded and delayed his movements. Time 
was precious, for he did not know how soon the attack 
>vould be made. He had ridden over this road at ten 
o'clock, and soldiers had passed and repassed along it all 
the forenoon. Hence it ^vas not supposed that the en- 
emy had as yet tried to occupy it, and McPherson took 
it without hesitation. 

Before he entered the wood, however, he stopped, 
and looked over the ground carefully, as if he had a pre- 



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HIS DEATH. 253 

monition that danger lurked in its leafy arcades. But 
dismissing his apprehensions, if he had any, he sent the 
only officer remaining with him (all the rest being off 
with despatches) back to General Logan, with orders to 
send a brigade and close up the gap at once, and hasten 
forward to join him on the other side of the wood at 
Smith's headquarters. Then, accompanied by only one 
orderly, he dashed the sjjurs into his black steed, which 
had carried him safeh' through every battle since Shiloh, 
and which seemed like his master to love "the confused 
noise of battle and the shouting of the captains," and dis- 
appeared in the green foliage of the forest. But the 
rebels had already advanced their skirmish line into the 
woods, and now held a part of the road. Suddenly con- 
fronting him, as he galloped forward, they ordered him 
to surrender. He had not discovered them till that 
moment, and was so near that half a dozen more bounds 
of his horse would have brought him into their very 
midst. Startled at the sudden apparition, he threw the 
animal back on his haunches with a sudden pull. Then, 
suddenly recollecting himself, he gallantly raised his cap, 
and made a graceful salutation. At the same moment 
he reined his steed quickly to the right, and sending the 
spurs home, with a bound dashed into the woods. A 
volley followed him, and, pierced by several balls, he 
reeled from his saddle and fell. The rebels rushed alter, 
and though they found him still breathing, rifled his 
pockets, taking his watch and private papers, and also 
his sword, belt and field-glass.* Then, ajDparently fear- 
ing an attack, they retired. Some of our men, socn after, 
passing down the road, saw the black steed, as well 

* These, all hut the watch, were recovered from prisoners. 



254 MAJOR-GENERAL JAMES B. MoPHERSON. 

known by the troops as his master, come limping out of 
the wood, riderless and wounded in two places — one bul- 
let hole through the saddle-cloth. The sight of the mute 
beast told better than words, the fate of his brave master. 
His body was immediately searched for, and among 
others, by a wounded private named George Reynolds, 
who, forgetful of his own suffering, thought only of his 
beloved commander. He found him not fifty yards from 
the road, showing that the horse had made but a few 
leaps before McPherson fell. The noble form lay stretch- 
ed under the green leaves, still breathmg. George, with 
his heart bursting with grief, bent over him, and asked 
him if he would have a drink of water. Receiving no 
answer, he again enquired if anything could be done for 
him. Whether his spii'it was so far gone toward that 
land where the tread of armies is never heard, and the 
sound of battle never comes, that he could not hear the 
last words addressed to him on earth, or hearing, could 
not answer, will never be known. His feet had already 
entered the waters of "that dark ocean on which we are 
all to embark so soon,'' and in a few minutes he ceased 
to breathe. George, with another private, then came 
down the road, and meeting some ofHcers, told them they 
had just left the body of McPherson. An ambulance 
was at once secured, and the body brought away. "No- 
ble George Reynolds," states an officer, " not enough can 
be said in praise of young Reynolds. He was severely 
wounded through the left arm ; and although weak and 
faint from loss of blood, remained with the general till he 
died, and did everything in his power to cc^mfort him, 
and refused to have his wounds dressed until his remains 
had been secured and carried to Sherman's headquarters."" 
When the latter beheld the noble form he loved so well 



Mcpherson's revenue. 255 

stretched stiff in death before him, even his stern heart 
gave way, and the eye that had gazed so often unmoved 
on scenes of carnage and blood, overflowed in tears, and 
like Napoleon over the dying Lannes and the dead 
Duroc, he gave way to the deepest sorrow. When the 
news reached Grant, he exclaimed: " The country has 
lost one of its best soldiers, and I have lost my best friend,^'' 
and burst into tears. What a touching tribute to the 
unconscious hero was the grief of these two great chief- 
tains. 

" How sleep the brave who sink to rest, 
By all their country's wishes blest." 

His death carried grief to thousands of hearts ; but in 
one it crushed out the very life — the lady, in Baltimore, 
whom he was about to claim as a bride, at the time he 
received the news of his appointment to the command of 
Sherman's former army, but postponed it to prepare for 
the great campaign at the close of which he fell. 

McPherson's death was soon known throughout his 
army, awakening, first, bitter grief, and then the keenest 
thirst for vengeance. And when the enemy came on 
again that afternoon, " McPherson and revenge,"" resound- 
ing from right to left of the eager line, was the fearful 
slogan with which they charged on the foe. Thousands 
went down before it, and at night-fall the dripping ensan- 
guined earth bore mute testimony to the terrible ven- 
geance his devoted followers had taken on his slayers. 

The grandmother of McPherson, aged eighty-seven, 
hearing that Grant retired to his tent and wept, when 
he received the tidings of McPherson's death, wrote him 
an interesting letter, and, among other things, said, " I 
wish to inform you that his remains were conducted by a 



256 MAJOR-GENERAL JAMES B. McPHERSON. 

kind guard to the very parlor where he spent a cheerful 
evenmg, in 1861, with his widowed mother, two brothers, 
and an only sister, and his aged grandmothei', who is 
now trying to write. His funeral services were attended 
in his mother s orchard, where liis youthful feet had often 
pressed the soil to gather the falling fruit, and his re- 
mains are resting in the silent grave, scarce half a mile 
from the place of his birth." She closes by saying, " I 
pray that the God of battles may be with you, and go 
forth with your arms, till rebellion shall cease, the Union 
be restored, and the old flag wave over our entire land. 
" With much respect, I remain your friend, 

" Lydia Slocum, 
"Aged 87 years and 4 months." 
To this Grant sent the follo^ving reply, exhibiting not 
only a beautiful phase of his own character, but showing 
his high appreciation of that oi' McPherson : 

HEADaUARTERS ARMIES OF THE U. S., t 

CiTT Point, Va., Aug. 10, 186-1. ( 

J/;-.<. Lydia Slocum: 

My Dear Madam : Your very welcome letter of the 3d instant has 
reached me. 1 am glad to know that the relatives of the lamented Major- 
General McPherson are aware of the more than friendship existing between 
him and my.-elf A nation grieves at the loss of one so dear to our nation's 
cause. It is a selfish grief, because the nation had more to expect from him 
than from almost any one living. I join in this selfish grief, and add the 
grief of personal love for the departed. lie formed, for some time, one of 
my military family. I knew him well ; to know him was to love. It may 
be some consolation to you, his aged grandmother, to know that every 
officer and every soldier who served under your grandson felt the highest 
reverence for his patriotism, his zeal, his great, almost unequalled ability, 
his amiability, and all the manly virtues that can adorn a commander. 
Your bereavement is great, but cannot exceed mine. 

Yours truly, U. S. Grant. 

In personal appearance McPherson was very com- 
manding. Over six feet high, with a noble forehead, and 



HIS CHARACTER. 257 

an eye clear and open as the day, he seemed made for 
a knight of the olden time. He was a splendid rider, 
and amid the smoke and carnage of battle both he and 
his black steed seemed to be inspired. Wherever regi- 
ments were wavering, the presence of that horse and 
rider arrested at once the disorder, and the shaking line 
became compact and steady as granite. He never lost a 
battle. A braver man never drew sword, if bravery can be 
predicated of one, who by natnre seemed totally uncon- 
scious of fear. If he had any fault, it was the too reckless 
exposure of his person. His life was too valuable to be 
risked as it was often done by him. While pi-eparing for 
a o-reat battle, which would in all likelihood be lost if he 
fell, he would sometimes in person accompany his skir- 
mishers ; and, in the fight, where the pressure was hea- 
viest on his lines, there he was always sure to be found. 
Conspicuous by his commanding height and his black 
horse, he had often been made the target of sharj'shooters, 
in fact, of whole battalions and batteries, yet never re- 
ceived a wound till the last fatal one. He never used 
profane language, even in the heat of the contest. He 
needed no oaths to give emphasis to his harangues and 
orders, for though on ordinary occasions he was a poor 
speaker, embarrassed, and common-place, and tiresome — 
in the he.it and clangor of battle his words rang like a 
bugle-call. There, he was in his true element, and his 
form dilated and his clear eye blazed, and he rode at the 
head of his columns the model of a hero. Courteous 
and affable, his head(juarters were always the centre of 
hospitalit}'. Admired by his officers, he was loved by all. 
With a mind capable of great combinations, and an ex- 
rensive energy to match it, he was a, tower of strength to 
the general under whom he served.. .Had he been given 
17 



258 MAJOR-GENERAL JAMES B. McPHERSON. 

a wider field, he would have ranked second to none. 
Full of honor and noble generosity, he finished his short, 
bright career, leaving no stain on his blade. Plunder and 
lawless violence were his detestation, and, like Thomas, 
he had no enemies. " Noble in all his impulses, pure in 
all his relations, true to the integrity of his country, able 
in council, and great as a militarj^ chieftain, his fall was 
a sad calamity to our cause and country." War brings 
to the surface but few such men, and the casualties of 
battle seldom remove a leader of so much worth and 
promise. 

Peace to his ashes and a grateful monument to his 
memory! 



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CHAPTEK Xll. 

MAJOR-GENERAL GEORGE H. THOMAS. 

HIS RESEMBLANCE TO WASHINGTON — HIS BIRTH AND EARLY EDUCATION — 
HIS STANDING AT WEST POINT — ACCOUNT OP HIS EARLY MILITAR"! 
CAREER — WOUNDED IN A FIGHT WITH THE INDIANS WHILE ON AN EX- 
PLORING EXPEDITION — BREAKING OUT OF THE WAR— STANDS BY THE 
OLD FLAG — COMMANDS IN PATTERSON'S ARMY — IS UNDER BANKS — SENT 
TO KENTUCKY UNDER GENERAL ANDERSON — CAMP DICK ROBINSON — WILD- 
CAT CAMP — DEFEATS ZOLLICOFFER BATTLE OF MILL SPRING — DEATH OF 

ZOLLICOFFER — MADE MAJOR-GENERAL OF VOLUNTEERS — MARCHES TO 
PITTSBURG LANDING — AFTER OPERATIONS UNDER BUELL — ORDERED TO 
SUPERSEDE BUELL — DECLINES — SERVES UNDER ROSECRANS— CONFIDENCE 
IN HIM — FEELING OP THE ARMY — PET NAMES — HIS BRAVERY AT MUR- 
FREESBORO — HIS BRILLIANT HEROIC CONDUCT AT CHICKAMAUQA — SUPER- 
SEDES ROSECRANS— COMMANDS. THE CENTRE UNDER GRANT IN THE BATTLE 
OF MISSIONARY RIDGE — SHERMAN'S CHIEF RELIANCE IN THE ATLANTA CAM- 
PAIGN—ASSAULTED BY HOOD — AT JONESBORO — SENT TO NASH~V"ILLE TO 
RAISE AN ARMY — CORRESPONDENCE WITH GRANT — BATTLE OF NASH- 
VILLE — HIS CHARACTER. 

It is very rare in this world that a man occupies for 
years a position of great responsibility and of hazard, 
without doing or saying something for which his friends 
feel the necessity of apologizing. This is especially true 
when the elevation to such a position is sudden and rapid, 
and when he is surrounded by incapable men and often 
compelled to act under those who have neither his honor 
nor ability. Under such trying circumstances to utter no 
angry, hasty word, and do no imprudent act, is evidence of 
an equipoise of character seldom found. And }'et this 
is strictly true of Thomas. From the beginning to the 



262 MAJOR-GENERAL GEORGE H. THOMAS. 

end of the war, not a breath of slander has tarnished his 
fair fame. Handed about from one army to another, 
serving under some commanders who were removed for 
incompetency, and with others who have been disgraced, 
he himself has never been asked to defend his con- 
duct, or apologize for his mistakes. From the same 
state as Washington, he resembles him in many points. 
This, Rosecrans, for a time his commander, remarked of 
him, saying that when they were cadets together at West 
Point, he had noted this resemblance and " was in the 
habit of callino; him General Washinoton." 

He was born in Southampton county, Virginia, on 
the last day of July, 1816. His mother was of French 
origin, being descended from a Huguenot famih'. Born 
to affluence, he received a fair education and began the 
study of the law. But having a strong predilection for 
the military profession, he sought and obtained, through 
his friends, the appointment of cadet in the school at 
West Point. -Distinguished there for his probity, honor, 
and steadiness of character, he finished his course with 
credit, graduating in 1840, twelfth in a class of fortj'-five, 
and was appointed second lieutenant in the Third Artillery. 
The country then being engaged in a war ^vith the Indians 
of Florida, he was sent thither, and the next fall was brevet- 
ted first lieutenant for gallant conduct. In January, 1842, 
his regiment was ordered to the New Orleans barracks, but 
in June was transferred to Fort Moultrie, in Charleston 
harbor. The next December he was sent to Fort Mc- 
Henry, Maryland, where, in May, he was promoted to 
first lieutenant of artillery. The next spring he returned 
to Fort Moultrie, where he remained till the summer of 
1845, when, war being imminent with Mexico, he was 
ordered, Avith his company, to report to General Taylor in 



HIS BRAVERY AT MONTEREY. 263 

Texas, and was among the first to arrive on the held. 
The army lay for a while on the Rio Grande, opposite 
Matamoras, and when Taylor, with his main force, fell 
back to Point Isabel to establish a depot of supplies, 
Thomas' company was one of the eight left to garrison 
Fort Brown. He helped defend the beleaguered place 
under the tremendous bombardment of the Mexicans, 
until it was finally relieved by the victorious return of 
Taylor. He was then detached from his company, and, 
with a section of his battery, stationed at Keynosa with 
the advance guard. In September he joined the main 
arm}^ in its march to Monterey, and in the battle at that 
place, did such good service that he was brevetted captain. 
In December, 1846, he was placed in the advance with the 
brigade of Quitman, who entered Victoria early in the 
winter. 

In the bloody battle of Buena Vista, no one worked his 
guns with more steadiness, skill and bravery than young 
Thomas, and for his gallant conduct he was brevetted 
Major. He remained in Mexico till August, .1848, when 
he was ordered back to Texas. In the fall, he was put 
in charge of the Commissary Department at Brazos San- 
tiago, where he remained till December. From thence 
he was sent to Fort Adams, Rhode Island. But hostili- 
ties having broke out again in Florida, he was transferred, 
with his company, to that State, where he remained on 
duty till December, 1850. He was next stationed in 
Boston harbor, (January, 1851,) but before three months 
had expired, was relieved from his command and as- 
signed to duty at West Point, as Instructor of Artillery 
and Cavalry. Here he remained for four years, until 
the summer of 1854. During this period he married 
Miss Frances S. Kellogg, of Troy. 



264: MAJOR-GENERAL GEORGE H. THOMAS. 

On leaving West Point, he was sent with a battalion 
of artillery to California, and being assigned to Fort 
Yuma, relieved Major Heintzelman, who commanded the 
post. He now got transferred to the cavalry, in which 
he received the appointment of Junior Major, and the 
next year, 1855, joined his regiment at Jefferson barracks, 
Missouri. Being ordered to Texas, he remained there 
with his regiment over four years, Avhen he obtained leave 
of absence. During this time his duties were often very 
arduous. He was sent on two exploring expeditions, in 
one of which he had a fight with a body of Indians, and 
received a wound in the face. 

When the rebellion broke out, although a Virginian 
by birth, he did not hesitate a moment as to his duty. 
Though his State seceded, and his old acquaintances there 
looked to see him come over from the Federal army and 
fight in her defence, he stood firmly by the old fiag. In 
the summer of 1861 he was ordered to Carlisle Barracks, 
Pennsylvania, to re-mount his old cavalry regiment, which 
he had left in Texas, and which the rebel Twiggs had sent 
out of the Stiite without their horses. Equipping and 
sending on a portion of the regiment to Washington, he 
reported himself at Greencastle. In the meantime he 
was promoted to lieutenant-colonel, and in May to 
colonel. I^ the fore part of the summer, he com- 
manded a brigade in Patterson's army in Northern 
Virginia, and afterwards tiU August, was under General 
Banks. 

In this month he was made brigadier-general of 
volunteers and ordered to report to General Robert An- 
derson, at Louisville, Kentucky. Assigned by this com- 
mander to Camp Dick Robinson, to relieve Nelson, who, 
though only a lieutenant in the navy, had, by his indomit- 



BATTLE OF MILL SPRING. 265 

able energy, assembled there a force of six thousand men, 
he at once began the re-organization of the troops. 

ZollicofFer now marched into Kentucky through 
Cumberland Gaj), and Thomas made preparations to meet 
him. He sent General Schoepf to establish Wild-Cat 
Camp, twenty miles southeast of him, who, being attacked 
by Zollicoffer, beat him and drove him back to Cumber- 
land Gap. Thomas immediately advanced to Crab Orch- 
ard, to follow up this success and relieve East Tennessee. 
But the rebels, assemblino- in laro;e force at Bowlino; 
Green, arrested the movement, and he was ordered to 
march to Lebanon, where he organized the first division of 
the Army of the Cumberland. 

In the meantime, Zollicoifer had again moved for- 
ward, and, crossing the Cumberland river, established his 
camp at Mill Spring. Thomas ^vas now ordered by Buell 
to move against him, and attack him in his intrenchments. 
This was in mid- winter, and long, heavy rains had made 
the roads mere mortar beds, over which the new recruits 
marched wearily and the guns were drawn with great 
difficulty. Thomas made slow progress, but pushing 
steadily forward, he, at the end of nineteen days, arrived 
at Logan's Cross Roads, within ten miles of the rebel 
camp. Here he halted to let the remainder of his army, 
that was still toiling painfully for^\■ard, come up, and also 
to arrange with Schoepf, who was at Somerset, for a. com- 
bined attack on the enemy. But the rebel General being 
informed by his spies and scouts that only a portion of 
the Federal army had come up, determined not to wait 
behind his works until the forces moving against him 
could be concentrated. So, on Saturday evening, the 
1 8th of January, he marched out of his camp, and push- 
ing on all night, at daylight came suddenly upon oui 



266 MAJOR-GENERAL GEORGE H. THOMAS. 

pickets. The assault was totally unexpected, but Thomas 
was in the saddle at the first gun, and galloping to the 
front, soon had two regiments in line of battle, which 
nobly held the enemy at bay until the other troops could 
be brought up, when the contest became close and stub- 
born. For half an hour the firing was rapid, close and 
heavy, but at last the Ninth Ohio moved down on the 
rebel left with the bayonet, while the T^velfth Kentucky 
fell simultaneously on the other flank, crumbling both to 
pieces, and hurling the whole disordered line back behind 
its reserves. The next moment, the rebel bugles were 
heard sounding retreat, and the baffled enem}^ retreated 
in confusion to their intrenchments, leaving their com- 
mander, ZollicofFer, dead on the field. Thomas gather- 
ing up his wounded, followed after, and came before the 
intrenchments at evening, but not wishing to risk" an 
assault by night resolved to wait till morning. The rebels, 
however, that same night abandoned their provisions, 
artillery, wagons, ammunition, and camp equij^age of 
every kind, and fled across the ri^'er, streaming, a disorderly 
mob, over the country, and carrying consternation wherever 
they went. 

This was the first victory, of any importance, that we 
had won since the war commenced, and hence caused in- 
tense satisfaction throughout the country. It first brought 
Thomas' name into public notice, and from that day on 
lie never was beaten. 

He now resumed his original plan of invading East 
Tennessee, and began to collect the necessary subsistence 
for his army. But when about ready to move, he re- 
ceived orders from General Buell to join him with his 
command, preparatory to an immediate advance on Bowl- 
ing; Green. But the fall of Forts Henry and Donelson 



RETREATS TO LOUISVILLE. 267 

caused the evacuation of this place, and Thomas was or- 
dered to take his division to Louisville, and thence by 
ste&,mers to Nashville, which he reached on the 2d of 
March. Here he remained till May, when Buell began 
his march across the country to Pittsburg Landing, in 
order to join Grant's army, encamped there. His divi- 
sion being in reserve, did not reach the battle-field till 
the victory was won. 

Havuig been made major-general of volunteers, his 
division was transferred to the Army of the Tennessee, 
and he given the command of the right wing. He bore 
his part in the slow campaign that followed, and after the 
evacuation of Corinth, was stationed with his division 
along the Memphis and Charleston railroad, his command 
extending from luka, in Mississippi, to Tuscumbia, in 
Alabama. 

In June, he was transferred to the Army of the Ohio, 
as it was then called, and concentrated his division at 
Dechard, Tennessee. Leaving Schoepf in command here, 
he went to McMinnville, to take charge of two divisions 
located in that place. In September, he received orders 
from Buell to join him at Murfreesboro. On reaching that 
town, however, he found that Buell was falling back to- 
ward Nashville, and had left orders for him to follow on. 
He did so ; reaching Nashville on the 8th, and was im 
mediately put in command of that post. But Buell con 
tinning to fall back to Louisville, Thomas, on the 13th, 
received orders to march thither also, and at the close of 
the month reached the city. 

This rapid retreat was made to checkmate Bragg, 
who, with a heavy force, had crossed the Cumberland 
mountains, and was invading Kentucky. 

At Louisville, a telegram was received from Wash 



268 MAJOR-GENERAL GEORGE H. THOMAS. 

ington, removing Buell from the head of the army, and 
putting Thomas in his place. The latter immediately de- 
clined the proffered honor, and telegraphed back, urging 
the Government to retain Buell, as he was the only pro- 
per man to command the army. In accordance with his 
earnest request, the order was rescinded, and Buell re- 
tained in command. Thomas knew, if those at Wasli- 
ington did not, the great military capacity of Buell. 

The latter now moved off to oive Brao-o- battle wherev- 
er he could find him, Thomas being second in command. 

After the battle of Perry ville, Buell was again re- 
moved, and the command of the army given to Rose- 
crans, which again assumed the name of the " Army of 
the Cumberland." When the latter commenced his ad- 
vance on Murfreesboro, Thomas, at the head of the 
Fourteenth Corps, had the centre. 

The career of Thomas since the commencement of the 
war had been in perfect keeping with Rosecrans' early, 
opinion of him. He had called him Washington, in 
their early days, and the latter had showed by his pru- 
dence, combined with daring, his correct judgment and 
unmoved equanimity, his probity and modesty, and, 
above all, his unconquerable firmness, that he deserved 
the appellation. It was natural, therefore, that in the im- 
portant campaign before him, Kosecrans should lean 
heavily on him, and look to him more than to all others 
for advice and counsel. His frequent confidential inter- 
views with him soon became known to the army, and 
the more they saw that " Pap Thomas," as the soldiers 
familiarly and affectionately called him, had to do 
with the management of affairs, the greater their con- 
fidence became in their new commander. Thomas was 
known throughout the army by another favorite sobri 



" SLOW TROT." 269 

quet, " Old Slow Trot;^' given to him on account of hia 
deliberate and dignified movements. Sometimes his escort 
would get impatient, and hurry on at a gallop, which 
Thomas, absorbed in reverie, would not at first notice, 
but the moment he did, would order, " slow trot r when 
the eager riders would be compelled to draw rein, and 
adopt the more dignified gait of their chieftain. 

In the first day's terrible defeat at Murfreesboro, 
when our whole right wing was crushed into fragments, 
and swung back till it stood at right angles to the centre, 
where Thomas was -with his thirteen thousand veterans, 
that gallant leader s usually quiet nature became thorough- 
ly aroused. He was a rock in his steadfast immovabil- 
ity, but like that rock, when once loosened from its l^ed, 
and descending the cliffs in its headlong plunge, was swift 
and terrible, and resistless in his onset. As he saw the 
line crumble rapidly away, his blue eyes flashed, and his 
teeth set like a vice. 

In the crisis of the fight, as he spurred over the field, 
he came upon Rosecrans, Crittenden, and McCook, with 
their respective staffs and escorts, gathered on a gentle 
eminence. The whole presented a brilliant group, whicli 
at once attracted the attention of the enemy, and the next 
instant shell and shot were rushing and hissing over them. 
McCook, seeing the hazard they were running, exclaimed, 
" This is a nice mark for shells. Can't you thin out, 
men?" Thomas, throwing a quiet glance around him, 
remarked, with, a tone of bitterness, " I guess it's about 
as safe one place as another," and turning his horse's 
head to the front, rode off to where the storm was raging 
fiercest. 

When the gallant Sheridan — the last of the right 
wing — was compelled to give way, the rebels pressing on, 



270 MAJOR-GENERAL GEORGE H. THOMAS. 

struck Thomas' right flank, and poured around hia 
rear. For i moment he looked up astonished, and then 
turning to Negley said, quiekl}- and sternly, " Cut your 
way out.*" With fixed bayonets the brave fellows moved 
swiftly on the victorious foe, and with the naked steel did 
" (iut " a terrible path through them, clearing once more 
his rear. 

In the consultation of general officers on the cold and 
stormy night after the first day's battle, Thomas' voice 
was for fighting it out on the ground they occupied. 

Rosecrans, in his report of the battle, speaking oi 
Thomas, calls him '•'•true and iwadeiit^ distinguished in 
council and on many battle-fields for his courage." 

The next day the enemy made several attempts to 
advance on the position of Thomas, but was met with 
such a fierce fire of artillery that he dared not leave the 
woods. This was New Year s Day. On the 2d, Bragg, 
at daylight, opened a terrific artillery fire on him, but 
did not venture on an attack. Toward sunset, Critten- 
den advanced across the river to reconnoitre, ^\■hen the 
enemy fell on him in such overwhelming numbers, that 
though he bore up gallantly for awhile, he was at length 
compelled to fall back. This being reported to Thomas, 
he ordered Negley to move at once to his support, which 
lie did, the men crossing the river almost on a run, and 
charging the rebels so impetuously that they broke and 
fied, leaving four pieces of artillery, and a stand of colors 
in our hands. 

Bragg having retreated on the night of the 3d, Thomas 
spent the next night in burying the dead left on the field, 
and the following day, preceded by Stanley's cavalry, 
marched with waving banners and triumphant music intc 
MurfreesV)or(), and took possession of the place. 



THOMAS AT CHICKAMAUGA. 271 

When Rosecrans, after a long repose, finally took up 
his march for Chattanooga, Thomas, as ever, was his right- 
hand man. 

THOMAS AT CHICKAMAUGA. 



After the evacuation of Chattanooga, and when 
Rosecranz, almost too late, found that Bragg, instead of 
being in full flight, as he supposed, was actually march- 
ing hack on the place ; thus compelling him to strain 
every nerve to concentrate his scattered corps, a part of 
which had got beyond the enemy, with, the Lookout 
Mountain between them ; he turned to Thomas, as his 
chief reliance, to save the army. 

Crittenden was alone in the Chickamauga Valley, op- 
posed to the whole rebel army, which was moving back 
on him. Thomas, separated from him by the Lookout 
Mountain, was at once ordered to fling his corps across it 
to his rescue. The rebel Hindman was directed to hold 
the only gap by which he could pass to reach him in 
time, and had he done so, Crittenden, if not the whole 
army, would have been lost. But Thomas was too quick 
for him, and, sweeping through it, left Nagley to hold it, 
while he closed up with Crittenden, to wait for Mc- 
Cook, struggling back from his long and bootless march 
to cut off the retreat of Bragg. Finding that the enemy 
was swinging around Crittenden's left, to get between 
him and Chattanooga ; and seeing very plainly that the 
heaviest fighting would be there, Rosecranz directed 
Thomas to leave his position on Crittenden's right, and, 
falling back by night, march past his rear, and plant 
himself on his left, where the storm was certain first tv, 



272 MAJOR-GENERAL GEORGE H. THOMAS. 

break. When at last it did suddenly strike Lis extreme 
left, and drove the advanced divisions broken back, he 
galloped to the front, and rallying by his presence the 
disordered battalions, hurled them with such fury on the 
shouting foe that he suddenly halted. TJie sight of his 
brave regulars in confusion, of Scribner';:. bngade cut off, 
and well nigh lost, aroused the sleeping lion of his na- 
ture ; and, re-forming, as by magic, his whole line, till it 
presented once more a solid front, he ordered the whole 
to advance. The troops, inspired by his presence, and 
catching the lofty spirit that breathed in every look and 
action, sent up a shout of defiance. Not swift and head- 
long, but graijd and steady, like its great commander, the 
mighty line swept steadily over the field. Longstreet, 
who commanded here, and a moment before felt siu'e of 
victory, saw with amazement its terrible advance. He 
at once ordered a charge, and, calling up his reserves, 
determined at all hazards to arrest it. But its onward 
movement was like the inrolliug tide of the sea, crush- 
ing beneath its resistless mass of foaming waves every 
obstacle that lay in its path. The rebel batteries played 
on it with deadly effect ; yet still on it kept. Forced 
back, the hostile guns would wheel into new positions, 
and again sweep the firm formations mth their rapid 
fire, but all in vain. The rebel leaders, enraged to see their 
troops give way, flung themselves along the line with 
flashing swords, and oaths, and stirring appeals ; but the 
steadfast rock was now in motion, and each onward step 
was a crash. Never did troops rall}^ more bravely, and 
fling themselves into the jaws of death with more heroism 
than did these veterans of Longstreet. But scarcely 
would the head of a column be formed, ere it would melt 
away before the destructive fire that met it. The move 



THOMAS AT CHICKAMAUGA. 273 

ruent of that unbroken line was like the march of fate. 
Everything went down before it, and the rebel host was 
driven remorselessly back for more than a mile. 

But while victory was thus perching on Thomas's 
standard, the centre gave way before the impetuous onset 
of the enemy, and he had to halt, and then to fall back, 
to avert the disaster there. 

Baffled in their efforts to crush Thomas, the rebel host 
swept down our whole line to the right, vainly striving to 
find some weak point, where they might break through, 
until darkness put an end to the conflict, and the two 
armies lay down to wait for the Sabbath morning to 
light them once more to the scene of carnage. 

During this night Rosecrans made some changes in his 
positions ; and by withdrawing his right, till it rested on 
Missionary Ridge, he made it firmer, and shortened his 
line of battle by a mile. Thomas in the mean time threw 
up a breastwork of rails and logs in front of his position. 
The rebels being heavily reinforced that night, felt con- 
fident that the next day they would secure that victory 
which, but for Thomas, would have been theirs before 
nightfall the day before. The Sabbath morning dawned 
peacefully over the quiet valley, and spread its soft light 
on the overhanging mountains ; but its holy quiet was 
soon broken by the roar of artillery, as the enemy once 
more moved down on our line of battle. As on the day 
before, the storm burst first on Thomas. The rebels ad- 
vanced against his position with determined valor, and 
though that frail breastwork was an unbroken line of 
fire, before which the advancing battalions ^vent down 
like frost-work, fresh ones still came on. The dead lay 
in heaps in front of Thomas, but there seemed no end to 
the living tide that still pressed over the slippery ground 



274 MAJOR-GENERAL GEORGE H. THOMAS. 

Maddened by the stubborn resistance that met them, 
and determined, at whatever sacrifice of life, to carry that 
vital position, the rebel leaders gathered their over- 
whelming forces for one final assault. Thomas saw with 
anxiety the deep, heavy formations, and rode along his 
bleeding line to steady it. Heralded by artillery, the 
assaulting columns moved steadily forward, and though 
met with the same destructive fire as before, never for a 
moment faltered. In vain the halfdemolished l3reast- 
work glowed with flame — in vain grape and canister 
made horrible gaps in the deep-set ranks — determined to 
be stopped by nothing short of annihilation, they crept 
nearer and nearer, till the hostile lines could look sternly 
in each others eyes. Outnumbered and exhausted, 
Thomas's brave troops now began to waver. He made 
superhuman efforts to hold them to their work ; but, 
overborne by mere weight alone, they could no longer 
maintain their ground. Division after division slowly 
yielded to the pressure, until the whole corps swung dis- 
orderly back. Finding a new and strong position, 
Thomas at length succeeded in rallying them, and once 
more presented a determined fi-ont to the enemy. In the 
mean time, he sent ofi^ an urgent appeal for help. It was 
now about noon, and before his appeal could reach Rose- 
cranz, the latter had issued that fatal order to Wood to 
change his position, which being misunderstood by some 
one or wrongly given by Rosecrans,left that sudaen gap in 
our lines which the enemy was so prompt to take advantage 
of, and poured through it — cutting the army in twain, and 
hurling the centre and left into irrecoverable fragments. 
Rosecrans's headquarters were swept as by a sudden hur- 
ricane, and he and McCook and Crittenden borne back 
with the demolished army. The battle seemed over, for 



THOMAS AT CHICKAMAUGA. 275 

all was gone save the exhausted left wing, which stood 
alone on the tumultuous field. The prospect might well 
daunt the stoutest heart, — a few divisions, exhausted by 
a whole forenoon's desperate fighting, cumbered with 
wounded, and sadly weakened in number, against full 
seventy thousand victorious and exultant troops. Thus 
stood the battle a little after noon, on that eventful Sal)- 
bath. But this was just the situation to develupe tlie 
true strength of Tliomas's character. With an almost 
exhaustless reserve power, it required a desperate condi- 
tion to bring it forth into the light. He had no thought 
of retreating. It might be Thermopylae over again in 
the hopelessness of victory, bvit it still should be Ther- 
mopylae in its fame to all future time. Right there he 
and his braves would stand, and if they could do no more 
would leave a bright example for coming generations. 
Lining the semicircular ridge on which he was posted 
with cannon, he sternly awaited the shock. Nor did he 
have long to wait, for soon the whole rebel army moved 
in one mighty mass upon him. But so well had he 
planted his batteries, and so steady and deadly was the 
fii-e that swept the field in front, that all the exertions 
of its leaders could not carry their troops through it. 
Again and again they advanced in splendid order, and 
charged with unearthly yells against that wall of fire. 
Our men, lying down behind the ridge, and rising only 
as they fired, presented a poor mark for the foe, while 
the very numbers of the latter, in the open field, allowed 
every shot to tell. Hour after hour the fighting and 
carnage here were awful. 

Seeing at length that his fi'ont could not be carried, 
rhe rebel leaders determined to get in his rear, and so 
Qnish him with one blow. Through the ridge on which 

18 



276 MAJOR-GENERAL GEORGE H. THOxMAS. 

his right rest« d, and tack of him, a gorge ran, and the 
enemy, moving along out of sight beyond this ridge, 
now began to pour through it, directly in his rear. Even 
the lion heart of Thomas stood still at this appalling 
sight. He could spare no troops to drive back this force 
— no retreat could save him. It could no longer be a 
battle — ^it must be a butchery, or a quick surrender. Oh, 
to come to this after all ! But fate, as if trying this man 
to the utmost, and relenting at last, at this critical mo- 
ment brought him succor. While on his right the rebels 
were streaming in overwhelming masses to his rear, he 
saw far away to the left a cloud of dust rising over the 
tree-tops, and soon after, dark columns emerging into 
the open ground. Were they friends or foes ? was the 
anxious question he asked himself. Cut off from his 
commander, he had not heard from him for hours — no 
courier had reached him, and he could -not tell whether 
it was the enemy thus closing in on him from every side, 
or whether help was coming at last. At one time he 
said nervously to his staff: "Take my glass, some of 
you whose horse is steady — tell me what you can 
■seeT A civilian, standing near him, remarked that 
he felt sure that he could see the United States flag. 
" Do you think so ? do you think so % " asked the 
General nervously. Captain Johnson, of Nagley's staff, 
having got separated from his commander in the 
fight, at this moment galloped up and reported liim- 
himself for duty. " Find out," almost shouted Thomas, 
through his set teeth, " what troops those are comino- 
in on the left." In the mean time he never turned hi^ 
glass away from them. Nearer and nearer they came, 
every moment big with hope and dread. Long and 
anxiously he looked, till at last his glass drops, and a 



THOMAS AT CHICKAMAUGA. 277 

gleam like sudden lightning passes over tliat fiice, which 
had gi'own dark with trouble. It is the battle-flag of 
Granger that flutters in the breeze, and the fierce, swaft 
tread of those huirying battalions is bringing help. Oh 
what a load was lifted from his heart as the truth at last 
came home to him. The gallant Granger was hurrying 
to the field. It needed no consultation to tell Am what 
to do. A few minutes more and he would have been 
too late. The impetuous Steadman, his soul on fire at 
the fearful peril, seized the regimental colors, and putting 
himself at the head of those tw^o brigades, fell like a 
loosened cliff on Hind man's columns, now almost in 
Thomas's rear. There was no skii^mishing — no move- 
ments for an advantageous position — right on, and right 
over the astonished enemy, they went in one wild 
charge, bearing back the astonished broken columns with 
irresistible fury. It was over in twenty minutes. Yet 
in that brief time a thousand of those two immortal 
brigades had fallen. Scarcely had the smoke of the 
onset cleared away, when Thomas, with inexpressible 
delight, saw the regimental colors waving along the 
ridge where just before the rebel banners had fioated. 
The shout that went up at the sight was the shout of 
victory. What Steadman had so gallantly won he nobly 
held, and though the enemy made desperate struggles to 
get back their lost advantage, it was all in vain. 

As a last effort, they moved a column around to the 
left to get in the rear in that direction. Thomas saw it 
approaching, and, turning to Reynolds, said : " Go in 
there." He did go in, walking straight over the column, 
capturing several hundred prisoners, and scattering it in 
confusion. 

Night now was coming on, and the rebels rallied for 



278 MAJOR-GENERAL GEORGE H. THOMAS. 

a last effort. Thomas saw them coming steadily on 
througli tlie gloom, and, with the order " to stand fast," 
awaited their approach. When the shadowy mass came 
within striking distance, he shouted,' " Give them the 
cold steel ! " With bayonets at charge, the line, with 
one loud, defiant cry, leaped forward. The rebels caught 
the sheen of the levelled steel in the dim light, and 
turned and fled. 

Without food, water, or ammunition, Thomas saw 
that he could not stay where he was, and so fell back 
unmolested to Rossville ; and next day the whole army 
retired to Chattanooga. 

Thomas at once became the favorite of the nation. 
The rockfast firmness and splendid courage which had 
saved us from overwhelming defeat — that lofty heroism 
which scoffed at numbers, and scorned to retreat, and 
that noble devotion which counted his life as nothing 
when the honor of his country was in jeopardy, extorted 
unbounded admiration from every heart. But the hero 
of all this did not seem to think he had done anything 
remarkable. He simply felt that he had whipped the 
enemy, saved the honor of the flag of his corps, and was 
satisfied. 

He remained cooped up in Chattanooga with Rose- 
cranz, until the latter was removed, when he assumed 
command, until the arrival of Grant. The hero of Vicks 
burgh sought his advice, and leaned heavily upon him 
for aid. When he planned his grand attack on the 
strong positions of the enemy, Thomas commanded the 
centre, on which was to rest the fate of the battle. 
While Hooker and Sherman were getting into position 
on either flank, \'e made a bold reconnoissance. 



MOVEMENT ON MISSIONARY RIDGE. 279 

of the enemy's lines, and took possession of Orchard 
Knob, from which he was to make the decisive move on 
Missionary Ridge. Here, from early in the morning till 
the middle of the afternoon, he held his strong battalions 
like hounds in the leash, while the thunder of Hookei-'s 
and Sherman's artillery shook the hills. And when at 
last the order " Forward," broke along the silent line, his 
noble troops, knowing that his eye was upon them, swept 
gaily over the mile or more of broken ground, toward the 
base of the ridge, taking the shot and shell from the 
heights above as unconcernedly as though they had been 
hailstones. Thomas saw them with delight roll like a 
dark, resistless wave over the rifle-pits at the base of the 
steep hill, whose top was black with batteries above, and 
around which the sulphurous clouds hung in angry masses. 
Side by side with Grant he stood, and watched the regi- 
ments clamber up the steep acclivity, lacing here and 
there the slope with waving lines, while j)uffs of smoke 
here, and there, and everywhere, showed where brave 
men were struggling and falling. When the top was 
tinally reached, and the rebel line broken beyond redemp- 
tion, he dashed his spurs into his horse, and was soon 
pouring his columns forward on the retreating foe. 

After the pursuit was abandoned, he returned to 
Chattanooga, where he remained for the winter. When 
Grant was promoted to the chief command, and Sherman 
put in his place, the latter turned to Thomas " with the 
same confidence that Grant and Rosecrans and Buell 
had done before him." The reliance which every com- 
mander reposed on him was so plain, even to the common 
soldier, that he began to be called the " brains of the 
army." He and Sherman were as opposite as two great 
commanders well could be, and at first glance one would 



280 MAJOR-GENERAL GEORGE H. THOMAS. 

nave said they never could work together. One was 
methodical, attempting nothing that was not based on 
strict military rules ; the other daring and ready to make 
rules for himself. But while Thomas did everything ac- 
cording to the well-established principles of military sci- 
ence, he was far from being a martinet. He did not lei 
rules use liim^ but he used them. He was constitution- 
ally methodical, and if he did anything at all he must do 
it in his own way. He himself was aware of this, and 
hence would not permit the Government or his superiors 
to force him to make a movement if he was expected to 
take the responsibility, until he was ready. He would 
serve as a subordinate cheerfully, and go anywhere, even 
to death if he was ordered, but if made responsible for 
success, he must be left, alone. 

Yet though so unlike as these two men were, instead 
of jarring with each other, they seemed exactly fitted to act 
together. Each appeared to be the supplement to the 
other, and while Sherman leaned with confidence on the 
solid judgment of Thomas, the latter felt pride in the 
daring, brilliant genius of the other, and so, though differ- 
ent in almost every particular, they moved on in perfect 
accord to glory and victory together. 

When Sherman commenced his grand movement into 
Georgia, with the distant Atlanta his objective point, of 
tlie hundred thousand men that composed his army, 
over sixty-seven thousand were under the command of 
Thomas, and of the two hundred and fifty pieces of ar- 
tillery, the latter had one hundred and thirty. It was 
plain that the Arm}- of the Cumberland was to be Sher 
mans chief reliance in reaching Atlanta. 

When the latter, at the outset, sent McPherson to 
make the flank movement which should force Johnston 



AT ATLANTA. 281 

from the strong position at Dalton, Thomas moved boldly 
up in front to occupy him till the former could reach his 
destination. It was not expected that he would deci- 
mate his army by a desperate attempt to carry the posi- 
tion by storm, yet it was necessary that his demonstra- 
tions against it should be heavy and bold, so that the 
enemy would feel compelled to keep all his force in hand 
to hold it. On the 7th of May, Thomas seized the strong 
position at Tunnel Hill, driving the enemy's cavalry be- 
fore him ; and two days after carried Rockyface Ridge, 
above the Gap, and threatened the latter so seriously that 
Johnston did not send off any troops to impede McPher- 
son's movement, till he got within a mile of Resaca, his 
point of destination. He lost a thousand men in this 
bold feint, for it was designed to be nothing more. 

Johnston retreated to Resaca, and here in the san- 
guinary battle that followed, Thomas as usual held the 
centre of our line. At Kenesaw Mountain, the chief 
fighting was done by his army. 

When the army finally approached Atlanta, the first 
grand assault of Hood was made on Thomas, while in 
the act of forming his lines, and was one of the most 
desperate of the war. Though caught unexpectedly, 
and while getting into position, he nevertheless was 
found prepared, as he always was for any emergency. 
His orders flew like lightning over the battle-field ; and 
though the rebel troops rushed to death as to a banquet, 
determined to f )rce their way through, they were mowed 
down so remorselessly, that they were at length compelled 
to abandon the attempt, leaving, as Thomas reported, five 
thousand on the field. 

"W'hen Sherman, finding Atlanta too strong to be car- 
ried by assault, determined to place his army below on 



282 MAJOR-GENERAL GEORGE H. THOMAS. 

the Macon road, so as to cut off its supplies, Thomas 
conimanded the centre in the delicate movement, and 
planted himself where the enemy had to come out and 
attack him. This the latter did with the two corps of 
Lee and Hardee, on the last day of August, falling on 
him with the same desperation that characterized Hood's 
onset. But of all men to drive from a position once 
taken, Thomas was the worst ; Chickamauga had shown 
that. This the rebels found to their cost, for they only 
dashed on a rock, and after a protracted, determined 
struggle, recoiled with the loss of full three thousand men. 
This settled the fate of Atlanta, and Hood retreated to 
Macon. 

When in September following. Hood marched to the 
rear of Sherman, ex})ect>ng him to evacuate Atlanta and 
Georgia, to save his communications, the latter, who had 
secretly sent Thomas to Nashville to organize and equip 
a new army, showed no concern, but kept on gathering 
his supplies preparatory to his march across the country 
to the Atlantic. Hood believing that the latter, when he 
finally left his front, had been outgeneraled and compelled 
to fall back to Atlanta, pressed swiftly forward in order 
to seize Nashville. 

Thomas, in the meantime, was straining every nerve 
to get an army together large enough to cope \(^ith that 
of Hood, Schofield had charge of all the forces in the 
field opposed to him, and these Hood drove swiftly before 
him, and came near capturing the entire army train. At 
Franklin, Schofield gave battle, and though the enemy 
was repulsed, he himself had to fall rapidly back to Nash- 
viUe, leaving Hood to claim a victory. The eyes of the 
latter were now opened, and he saw that Sherman was 
movino; in another direction. He was too far off to turn 



HOOD AT NASHVILLE. 283 

in pursuit, and unless he could take Nashville, his whole 
movement would be a complete failure. He, therefore, 
at once advanced his lines around the city, occupying a 
crest of hills some four or five miles out from the place, and 
completely invested it from the south. The defensive works 
were on a similar series of hills nearer the city. Hood also 
planted batteries on the Cumberland river, west of the 
place, so that the only line of communication left open to 
Thomas, was the Nashville and Louisville railroad. If 
the former had advanced at once to the assault, there was 
a possible chance of success ; but the moment he sat down 
before it in regular siege, giving Thomas just what he 
wanted and all that he wanted — time — the result was no 
longer doubtful. 

Eight gunboats, including the iron-clad Monitor, 
Neosho, came up the Cumberland, and were quite able 
to take care of Hood's river batteries. The people were 
set to labor on the fortifications, and two lines of works, 
exterior and interior, were constructed at a distance 
varying from a mile to two miles from the city, with forts, 
redoubts and rifle-pits at the necessary points, till all the 
outlying hills looked like separate fortresses. Early in 
December, Thomas opened on him with artillery ; but, 
said an officer, "Hood evidently had the strange idea 
that Thomas would either evacuate without fighting, or 
would be starved into a surrender by the destruction of 
his communications ; therefore, all he had to do was to 
keep good his investment, and strike as he was able at the 
Louisville railroad, just as Sherman did at the Macon 
road when aiming at Atlanta." But Thomas with his 
works completed, "with fair supplies of all kinds on 
hand, and an abundance of most," had ceased to be 
anxious about maintaining his position, and "his usually 



284 MAJOR-GENERAL GEORGE H. THOMAS 

quiet eyes uow ])egan to gleam with the fier '"- light of 
battle; and it was soon apparent to all who happened 
to be much at headquarters, that ' old Pap George,' as his 
soL.iers persist in calling him, prudent general as he is, 
would very speedily be spoiling for a fight." 

Although he was now to all appearance ready to take 
the field, he was sadly deficient in cavalry. He washed 
not only to defeat Hood, but to have the means of pur- 
suing him when beaten. It was reported that the Sec- 
retary of War became impatient at his delay, and re- 
quested Grant to order him to move, and that the latter 
telegraphed him the views of the Department, and got 
back the answer that he was not ready yet, and, if he was 
dissatisfied with his course, to send some one on to take 
his place, and he would cheerfully act as his subordinate. 
But this report was not true. Grant, of his own sugges- 
tion, telegraphed to Thomas that he wished him to move 
at once upon the enemy, and he replied, in substance, as 
above. Grant sent back word that he had more confi- 
dence in him than any other man, and to take his own 
time ; still, he would like to know the reasons of his de- 
lay. But Thomas, determined that in no way should 
these reasons leak out, did not give them, and Grant let 
him alone, to act as his own judgment dictated. It was 
well that he did. 

Thomas now wrote that he must have cavalry, and the 
Secretary of War telegraphed Wilson, chief of cavalry, 
to seize and impress all serviceable horses wherever he 
could find them in Kentucky or Tennessee ; to do it 
quickly, and not stand on the form of his action. In a 
week Thomas had the horses, without which he could not 
have moved; though by no means the cavalry force he 
needed. By the middle of the month he felt ready t<? 



BATTLE OF NASHVILLE. 285 

advance, but just then came a cold snap, which made all 
the hills aglare with ice, so that neither men nor animals 
could keep, their feet. He was therefore compelled to 
wait for a thaw. At length, on the 14th, it came, and 
Thomas seeing that probably by next morning the surface 
of the ground would once more be soft, gave orders to be 
ready to attack by daylight. 

His plan of battle was simple. On his left, the coun- 
try was rugged, and he determined to make a feint on 
Hood's right flank in that direction, while he massed his 
main force on his own right, and, covered by our gunboats 
stationed there, crush in Hood's left, which rested on the 
Cumberland, and roll it broken, back on the centre. So, 
at daylight, A. J. Smith, on the extreme right, with the 
Sixteenth Corps, was ordered to advance ; Wilson's cav- 
alry keeping along the river shore, and Wood, with the 
Fourth Corps, to close in on his left, while Schofield, 
with the Twenty-third, came in on Wood's left ; though he 
was to act rather as a reserve — thus concentrating three 
corps on the rebel left. Away off to our left, Steadman, 
commanding a somewhat motley, mixed body of troops, 
had been ordered to push out before daylight, with a 
heavy body of skirmishers, on the rebel right. He did 
so, and dashing on the enemy's pickets, drove them back, 
and kept swiftly on, until he came plump upon a rebel 
battery, in front of which was a deep railroad cut, which 
the troops could not cross, and hence were repulsed 
with heavy loss. Hood, aroused at early dawn by the 
heavy firing on his extreme right, had scarcely time to 
ascertain what it meant, when down on his unsuspecting 
left, like a loosened flood, came the two corps of Smith 
and Wood. It could hardly be called a battle — so sud- 
den and overwhelming was the onset, that the enemy's 



286 , MAJOR-GENERAL GEORGE H. THOMAS. 

line crumbled to atoms before it. The " rock of Chick 
amauga" was unseated, and descending in its fearful 
plunge. With a single blow, Hood's left was gone — 
driven back in confusion on the centre. "This let the 
cavalry loose, and now Wilson swept round and past our 
right like a thunderbolt, and hung like an avenging cloud 
on the flank and rear of the rebels, as they fell sullenly 
back on their centre." 

Aroused to the imminent peril that threatened him, 
Hood now ordered over troops from his right to stay the 
reversed tide of battle, and from all the heights around 
Nashville could be seen the hurrying lines of infantry 
and artillery sweeping to the rescue. 

But though his left was gone, the position he held in 
the centre was a strono- one — hi oh hills, covered with 
breastworks, lined with rifle-pits, and tringed with abattis, 
beyond which frowned heavy l^atteries commanding all 
the open country below. Smith paused before this for- 
midable barrier, and began to reconnoitre. Wood and 
Schofield now came up, and all day long Hood's intrench- 
ments were swept by a fierce artillery fire, while here and 
there the infantry attempted to find a weak spot hi his 
lines. But no impression was made on the strong position 
the enemy occupied, and no particular advantage gained, 
except the possession of a battery, which was carried by 
a gallant rush. Still, the results of the whole day footed 
up well, 2,000 prisoners captured, with sixteen pieces ol 
artillery. 

Thomas, who saw that no more could be done that 
night, for it was now getting dark, ordered the firing to 
c.ease, and rode ofi* to Nashville to telegraph his success 
to Washington. Just before he left, however, he re- 
marked to an ofiicer in his quiet way, as though speaking 



SECOND day's battle. 287 

only of some unimportant matter, " So far, I think, we 
have succeeded pretty well. Unless Hood decamps to- 
night, to-morrow Steadman will double up his right. 
Wood will hold his centre, Smith and Schoiield again 
strike his left, while the cavalry work away at his rear." 
Hood took up a new position in the night-time, one 
evidently chosen long ago, and prepared for just such an 
emergency as this. It was two miles in rear of his first, 
while his lines were shortened from six miles to three, 
and at first glance looked impregnable. But Thomas, 
carrying out his original plan, sent Steadman at daylight 
on the rebel right, while Wood moved over the abandon- 
ed works of the enemy on his centre. They had orders, 
however, only to feel the hostile line, till Smith and 
Schofield on the left, again should enact over the scene of 
the day before. These commanders, however, were for- 
bidden to move, until the cavalry, which Thomas had 
sent far around to the rear, could be heard from. Hood 
had again committed the mistake that he did in Atlanta, 
when he sent off all his cavalry to cut Sherman's com- 
munications, leaving that commander to place his army 
where his own would be effectually destroyed. He pos- 
sessed a fine body of cavalry, under Forrest, superior in 
numbers to that of Thomas, but he had sent it down 
the Cumberland after our transports, and back to Mur- 
freesboro, to waste its energies in dashing against its 
strong defences. Thomas was aware of this, and hence 
had no fear of his cavalry. It was a long time, however, 
before our cavalry was heard from. It had made a wide de- 
tour to prevent the movement being detecte !, so that noon 
came without anything of importance being done. There 
had been heavy artillery firing all the forenoon, and 
Hood was evidently momentarily expecting an attack 



288 MAJOR-GENERAL GEORGE H. THOMAS. 

Smith and Schofielcl chafed under the inaction, and sent 
to Thomas for permission to assault, but he firmly 
refused. The short winters day wore on, and night 
threatened to come before anything was accomplished. 
But Thomas remained imperturbable as ever, amid all 
the impatience and excitement around him. At length, 
about four o'clock, a prolonged fire of rifles and car. 
bines, that swept around the rebel flank and crept 
up along Hood's rear, told him that the hour had come 
His blue eye flashed with sudden inspiration, and turning to 
his aids, he said, " Now tell Generals Schofield and Smith 
to advance." Away like the wind dashed the aids, cross- 
ing fields and highways in their fierce passage, but before 
they could reach the impatient generals, they were already 
moving. They, too, had caught the meaning of the fierce 
fire along the rebel flanks and rear, and had heard the 
Union bugles sounding the charge, and they at once 
ordered a general assault. With leveled bayonets and 
high ringing cheers, that rolled triumphantly over the 
(ield, they swept in one awful wave on the rebel works. 
Wood, in the centre, caught up the. shout and moved for- 
ward, and Steadman on the extreme left, charged home. 
In a moment, for three miles, the whole rebel line was a 
vast sheet of flame. The batteries thundered, shell 
screamed through the air, the heights trembled under 
the sudden earthquake, one vast sulphurous cloud wrap- 
ped the contending hosts, and for half an hour it seemed 
as if the infernal pit had opened there along the rugged 
crests. But it was quickly over — carried away by the 
awliil rush, the rebel army seemed lifted as by a whirl- 
wind, and borne bodily backward. Throwing away every- 
thing that could impede their flight, they sped in wild 
confusion and dismay over the country. One great, ter- 



THE VICTORY. 289 

nble blow, and of all that proud host, nothing but frag- 
ments remained. Said a captured brigadier-general, in 
speaking of that charge, " Why, sir, it was the most won- 
derful thing I ever witnessed. I saw your men coming 
and held my lire — a full brigade, too — until they were in 
close range, could almost see the whites of their eyes, and 
then poured my volley right into their faces. I supposed, 
of course, that when the smoke lifted your line would be 
l)]-oken and your men gone. But it is surprising, sir, it 
never even staggered them. Why, they did not even 
come forward on a run. But right along, cool as fate, 
your line swung up the hill, and your men Avalked right 
up to and over my works and around my brigade before 
we knew that they were upon us. It was astonishing, 
sir, such fighting." * 

Over five thousand prisoners, one major-general, three 
brigadiers, and more than two hundred commissioned 
officers were captured, not to mention the killed and 
wounded. Forty pieces of artillery were taken, any 
quantity of small arms, battle-flags, &c. 

Thus, in two days, Thomas had taken some eight thou- 
sand prisoners, and between fifty and sixty pieces of ar- 
tillery. 

Night coming on, closed the conflict, and our army 
bivouacked on the field of victory, Avhile the fugitive, de- 
moralized rebel host fled through the darkness towards 
the Tennessee. Thomas now felt the want of a fresh di- 
vision of cavalry — with it nothing but the merest debris 
of the hostile army would have got ofl". The pursuit, 
hovN^ever, was commenced in the morning and pressed with 
all the vigor possible. But heavy rains setting in, made 
the road almost impassable to artillery. Horses and men 

* Capt. James F. Rusliiig, A. Q. M. 



290 MAJOR-GENERAL GEORGE H. THOMAS. 

were worn down in the effort to come up with the enemy, 
and though some prisoners were picked up, a second bat- 
tle could not be got out of Hood, and he at length suc- 
ceeded in putting the Tennessee between him and his 
remorseless pursuers. 

This was a great victory, and raised Thomas still high- 
er in public estimation. The plan of the battle in its sim- 
plicity and completeness, and the accuracy with which it 
was carried out, reminds one of the action at Chattanooga, 
in which Bragg was driven from Missionary Ridge. 
They look like the product of one mind, and their simi- 
larity tends to confirm the report that Thomas had ma- 
tured, before Grant's arrival, the very plan that the latter 
adopted and carried out so triumi:)hantly. 

Thomas had so effectually demolished the enemy, 
that there was but little left for his army to do, and a 
great part of it was taken from him to operate in other 
fields. Schoiield's corps was transferred to the Atlantic 
coast, to co-operate with Sherman, in his march north 
from Savannah ; Avhilc Steadman was sent across the 
Alleghanies with another force on the same errand, and 
hence his army, though he was not with it in person, 
was on the field where the closing scenes of the rebellion 
took place. At the close of the war he was retained 
in command of the Tennessee Department, aiding in the 
delicate business of reconstruction, and was afterwards 
transferred to the Department of the Pacific, whei-e he 
.died in April, 1870, and was buried in Troy, N. Y,, 
with militar}^ and civic honors. A bronze equestrian 
statue was eventually erected to him in Washington. 

Though he left no child to bear his name, the 
Grand Army of the Cumberland will call him father 
till the last member of it has passed away. 



HIS CHAEACTEE. 291 

HIS CHAEACTEE. 

General Thomas was a person of dignified presence, 
six feet high, and of massive frame. His features were 
somewhat heavy, and gave no indication of the great 
qualities he possessed, save that the large, square jaws 
impressed one with his firmness. His manners were 
gentle and courteous to all, and his deep, steady blue 
eyes revealed the truth, tenderness, and probity of his 
character. Grave, but not stern, their benignant ex- 
pression attracted instead of repelled the beholder. One 
could not look into their depths without feeling that there 
was a man satis peu7' sans reproclie. Like the immortal 
Washington, his military and personal record is without 
a blot. Modest and retiring, his merits alone had 
pushed him, despite himself, to eminence. Without 
resentments as without jealousy, he had no wrongs to 
redress, and no rivals to eclipse. His mind, like his 
body, moved deliberately, methodically — and he thought 
twice before he spoke, and then in careful, measured 
language. His opinions were well weighed, and given 
in a manner that carried conviction with them. So also 
his blows were carefully planned, but, when they fell, 
descended like "Thor's hammer." His mind was dis- 
tinguished for its clearness and simplicity, and he never 
seemed to be troubled with the complications that so 
often disturb the mental operations of others. The 
common soldier knew his worth as a counsellor, and he 
was oft6n spoken of by them as the " brains of the 
army." With none of that easy, off-hand familiarity or 
dashing way, and using none of those pleasant artifices 
which commanders sometimes employ to win tiie affec- 
tions of their troops, he nevertheless had their un- 
bounded love. He did not awaken such enthusiasm as 



292 MAJOE-GJEIOJEAL GEOEGE H. THOMAS. 

men like Sheridan in bis followers, but created, what 
was far better, a deep, abiding confidence in them, not 
only of his military ability, but of his truth, integrity, 
and goodness. His soldiers believed in him, and would 
follow him to the end of the world. He was not to 
them the dazzling hero, as Bonaparte was to his soldiers 
— he was more like a father among his children, and 
" Pap George," ''Pap Thomas " as they familiarly called 
him, indicated the character of their feelings towards 
him. Universally beloved, he was almost the only gen- 
eral that had been entrusted with separate command in 
this war, who has escaped both the bieath of calumny 
and the charge of incompetency. He needed no de- 
fenders for he had no detractors. It seems almost 
miraculous that he should have passed through such a 
troublous four years with not a complaint made against 
him. Even his enemies, when suffei-ing under the ter- 
rible punishment he knew so well how to inflict, could 
not bring a " railing accusation " against him. The 
most they have ever said was to reproach him for his 
loyalty. Not puffed up by his sudden and great re- 
nown, he wore his honors meekly, and shunned those 
public ovations which are the delight of the vain and 
ambitious. Never asking for leave of absence, he 
steadily remained on the field of duty, with his army. 
His whole character was singularly well balanced, so 
that it is difficult to say which quality predominated, 
except it was that which seemed rather to be the 
whole than part of the man — firmness. In this he was 
granite rock. Immovable as a cliif, he never was driven 
from the field. It is totally unlike that obstinacy/ which 
characterizes some men, and which is written in their 
very features. It is a solid formation, the existence of 



HIS CHARACTER. 293 

wMch is not suspected till it is tested. In fact, it seems 
to spring into being and grow with circumstances. This 
was exhibited at Chickamauga, where for long hours he 
grandly stood on that wild, tumultuous, lost field. The 
sublime tenacity with which he clung to his position 
will be the wonder of all time, and he never will lose the 
title won there, nobler than any his Government can 
confer — " The Rock of Chickamauga^ Superior to panic, 
he was a total stranger to that infectious fear to which 
every man, at one time or another, seems liable. Self- 
poised, the wilder the wi-eck around him, the fii'mer and 
calmer he stood. With the changing tide of battle no 
change came over him, but that of higher determination 
and sublimer self devotion. While the career of more 
brilliant men will lose its lustre with time, his ^vill be- 
come steadily brighter, and future history will accord 
him a high place in the temple of military fame. 



CHAPTER XIII. 

MAJOR-GENERAL WINFIELD SCOTT HANCOCK. 

mS BIKTH — ENTEKS WEST POrNT — SENT TO THE INDIAN TERRITORY — Hlfi 
SERVICES IN MEXICO — EXPEDITION TO UTAH — SENT TO CALIFORNIA — 
RECALLED AT THE BREAKING OUT OP THE WAR — MADE BRIGADIER- 
GENERAL — GALLANT CHARGE AT WILLIAMSBURG — HIS SERVICES ON THE 
PENINSULA UNDER m'CLELLAN — SERVES UNDER POPE — GALLANTRY AT 
ANTIETAM — AT FREDERICKSBURG — AT CHANCELLORSVILLE— REPRESENTS 
MEADE AT GETTYSBURG — THE BATTLE — IS WOUNDED — UNDER GRANT 
COMMANDS THE LEFT WING OF THE GRAND ARMY — BATTLE OF THE WIL- 
DERNESS — GALLANT CHARGE AT SPOTTSYLVANIA — AT NORTH ANNA — BE- 
FORE PETERSBURG — DEFEATED AT HATCHER's RUN — RESIGNS HIS COM- 
MAND — APPOINTED TO RAISE A CORPS OP VETERANS — COMMANDS IN THE 
SHENANDOAH VALLEY — HIS CHARACTER. 

The name of the subject of the following sketch sug- 
gests a military career, and may have had more to do 
than we know of in fixing the choice of his profession. 
Born in Montgomery county, Penns^dvania, February 
14th, 1824, he early showed his predilection for the army, 
for ]ie entered West Point when a mere lad, and gradu- 
ated in 1844, but twenty years of age. He was commis- 
sioncid brevet second lieutenant in the Sixth Infantry, and 
stationed in the Indian territory. But on the breaking 
out of the Mexican war, his regiment was withdrawn to 
form a part of the army of General Scott, and he went 
through the brilliant campaign that followed, with dis- 
tinction. He was still of an age when many of the cadets 



HIS EARLY SERVICES. 295 

are at West Point, yet for his gallantry at Churubusco he 
was brevetted first lieutenant, and on reaching Mexico, 
was made quarter-master of his regiment. 

Returning home at the close of the war, he was ap- 
pointed adjutant, and stationed in Missouri. This was in 
1849. He remained here six years, when he was made 
captain in the quarter-masters department, and ordered 
to Florida, and served during the campaign of 1855 
against the Seminoles. 

i^.fterwards he was sent to Kansas, and joined the ex- 
pedition to Utah, under General Harney, but on the 
abandonment of that, he was ordered to Fort Bridger to 
join the Sixth Infantry, as quarter-master, and accompany 
it across the country to Benicia, California. He was 
now stationed at Los Angeles, where the breaking out' of 
the rebellion found him. In looking around for officers 
in the regular service to occupy important positions in the 
mighty volunteer army we were raising, the attention of 
the War Department was called to Hancock, now ap- 
proaching his fortieth year, as one who could be of vastly 
more service here, in the terrible struggle before us, than 
out in that far-off" region, and he was ordered to report at 
Washington. Beaching the capital, he was, in September, 
appointed brigadier-general of volunteers in the Army of 
the Potomac. 

At the battle of Williamsburg which followed the 
evacuation of Yorktown, he was ordered by General 
Smith to take his brio;ade across a dam on our riojht and 
occupy some redoubts on the left of the enemy's line. He 
at once marched it across the dam, took possession of the 
first redoubt, and soon after, finding the second one va- 
cated, occupied that also, and sent back for reinforcements 
so that he might push on still further, and take a third, 



296 MAJOR-GENERAL WINFIELD SCOTT HANCOCK. 

which commanded the plain that stretched between him 
and Fort Magruder, and thus would enable him to direct 
his fire on the rear of the troops that were pressing so 
heavily Hooker and Kearney. The rebel commander, 
seeing the threatening attitude of Hancock, sent a strong 
force against him, and as the latter could not, with his 
single brigade, hold his position, and at the same time 
leave a sufficient force to protect his rear, or indeed secure 
his flank, he hurried off another staif officer for reinforce- 
ments. Smith was directed to take forward his division, 
but before he could start the order was countermanded. 
But the urgency of Hancock now becoming every mo- 
ment more apparent and his messages more pressing, 
Smith was again ordered to proceed with all possible dis- 
patch to his aid. Before his columns, however, were 
fairlv in motion, Sumner ao-ain countermanded the order, 
as he was afraid to weaken his centre. Hancock, fully 
aware that if he could occupy the position he wished, 
victory was certain, would not be denied, and implored 
Sumner to give him reinforcements. The latter, unwilling 
to comply, at length sent him word to fall back to his 
first position, as he could not spare him any troops. This 
he would not do until it became inevitable, besides it was 
a perilous undertaking in the presence of the enemy. 
The latter now came boldly on in overwhelming force, 
and Hancock opened on them with a fierce fire of artillery. 
As McClellan's ear caught the sound of the rapid explo- 
sions, he immediately and peremptorily ordered Smith 
to hasten thither with his two remaining brigades. Away 
they dashed on the double-quick, but before they could 
reach Hancock he had won the victory 'alone. Feigning 
to retreat, he fell slowly back in line of battle. The 
enemy, thinking it a retreat in earnest, and determined 



A GALLANT CHARGE. 297 

ro push it into a rout, dashed forward, cheering ana 
firing as they came. Hancock sat on his horse, watching 
every movement, till he saw that the proper time had 
arrived, when the command " halt" passed down the line. 
The ranks closed up firmly and steadily, and the brave- 
men stood like a wall along the rising slope, gazing stern- 
ly on the advancing line. On came the enemy, elated 
v/ith confidence, till near the top, and within forty yards 
of Hancock. " Fire," ran along the unfaltering ranks, 
and a swift, deadly volley swept the whole rebel line. 
Then rising on his stirrups, and lifting his sword aloft, he 
shouted, "charge bayonet." With levelled pieces and 
leaning forms and one deep shout of defiance, those 
2,500 men threw themselves with solid front down the 
slope. As the rebels saw the gleaming line come driving 
swiftly down they halted in amazement. It was a new 
sight in the ^^^ar, and the raw volunteers as they caught 
the determined expression of that immortal brigade, and 
the sheen of its steel, broke and fled in wild dismay over 
the field. 

The rebel position being completely turned by this 
victory, it was abandoned that night. Right gallantl}' 
was it done, and showed what kind of training Hancock's 
brigade had been subjected to. McClellan declared it 
" brilliant in the extreme." Scores of such charges have 
taken place since, but this was the first. It was thought 
tliat untried volunteers could not be brought up to it, and 
the gallant example was the talk of the army and the 
nation, and raised a spirit of emulation among the troops, 
that was worth more to them than a whole campaign. 

Previous to this, Hancock's name was scarcely knoA\Ti 
out of the army, but from this time to the close of the 
war, he occupied a large space in the public attention. 



298 MAJOR-GENERAL WINFIELD SCOTT HANCOCK. 

Afterwards, at the battles of Fair Oaks, Gaines' Mill, 
Savage Station, Nelson's Farm or Glen dale, and Malvern 
Hill, he fought side by side with Sedgewick, and main- 
tained the renown he had so suddenly won at Williams- 
burg. At Gaines' Mill, his and Burns' brigade, it is 
said, held the most exposed part of the lines. Han- 
cock, especially, " had taken a critical position in front of 
his intrqjichments with a strong battery. It was alto- 
gether probable the enemy would attempt to drive him 
back. The afternoon was wearing a^^'ay wearily without 
any serious demonstrations, and we had begun to sus- 
pect the enemy of some sinister desigii in remaining so 
undemonstrative. It was probably about four or five 
o'clock, however, when, without premonition, a strong 
force pressed heavily upon General Burns' picket line. 
He sent word instantly to Hancock to prepare for action. 
The latter was vigilant ; but he had hardty received the 
message before a rebel battery of heavy guns opened a 
furious storm of shell upon him. A moment later, a 
strong brigade pounced upon his" pickets, pressed them 

irresistibly back, and dashed at his batter}- 

Our picket reserves, however, held their ground manfully, 
and the enemy was driven back, our lads yelling triumph- 
antly. Hancock was victorious, after a bitter tight, in 
v\^hich two Georgia regiments were cut to pieces. Among 
the prisoners captured by him was one of the smartest 
and most mischievous of Southern politicians — Colonel 
J. Q. C. Lamar, of the First Georgia Regiment, once 
member of Congress." 

On the recall of the army from the peninsula to assist 
Pope, he accompanied his brigade to the front, and par- 
ticipated in that disastrous campaign. 

In the subsequent campaign, under McClellan, which 



AT ANTIETAM. 



299 



virtually closed with the battle of Antietam, he again 
displayed those great qualities which showed his claims to 
a higher command. 

Belonging to Richardson's division of Sumner's corps, 
which came to the help of Hooker, just as he was borne 
from the field, he fought as he never fought before. Amid 
the terrible carnage Kichardson went down, and Hancock 
succeeded to the command of the division, which he 
handled with masterly skill. He immediately sent off an 
urgent request for more artillery, as that of the enemy 
vastly outnumbered his, and was making sad havoc in 
his ranks. But none could be given him. At this time 
he was required to hold such a wide stretch of country, 
that he could form but one line of battle, which at the 
same time was pushed so far to the front, that it was en- 
filaded by the rebel batteries. Still, he would not retire, 
but held his men firmly under the fire, although the ranks 
melted away with fearful rapidity. It was a trying po- 
sition ; and he mentally exclaimed, " Oh, for two or three 
batteries ! " But they could not be had. Irritated at 
this compulsory inaction, and the slaughter of his brave 
men, Hancock could not conceal the excitement under 
which he labored. At length, seeing the rebels moving 
down on his left., he sent off to Franklin, begging him 
earnestly for a single battery. It was sent him, and b}' 
its help the enemy was driven back. The terrible ordeal 
through which he passed this day, may be judged from 
the fact, that of the loss of 12,460 on this part of the 
field, 5,200 fell in Sumner's corps alone. 

We cannot follow him in the long marches, and the 
many duties he performed in the succeeding months, nor 
describe his bearing and conduct in the assault, by Bum- 
side, on the heights of Fredericksburg. Sumner's corps 



300 MAJOR-GENERAL WINFIELD SCOTT HANCOCK. 

commanded the right wing, and suffered horribly in front 
of the earthworks on the slope. Seeing what terrible 
work was before them, Hancock advised the officers of the 
celebrated Irish Brigade, mider Meagher, to dismount, 
and move on foot to the assault. There was no room for 
manoeuvring here, no chance for the display of general- 
ship, all he could do was to stand amid the awful storm, 
and make his men stand too. This he did, till the dead 
and wounded of his division seemed to outnumber the 
living. Meagher's brigade, that fought directly under 
his eye, had only a little over a quarter of its number 
left at the close of that disastrous day. 

Hancock, like his chief, Sumner, knew beforehand 
that it was a mad attempt to take these heights by a di- 
rect assault; but, like him, did a soldier's duty, and freely 
exposed his own life, and saw his brave soldiers slaugh- 
tered uselessly, in obedience to orders. 

On the appointment of Hooker to the chief command, 
the gallant, bluff old Sumner resigned; but Hancock, 
retaining his former position in the army, bore his part in 
the disastrous battle of Chancellorsville. 

In the following summer, when Meade superseded 
Hooker, on the invasion of Maryland and Pennsylvania 
by Lee, Hancock at once assumed the important position 
to which his military ability entitled him, for Meade 
knew his worth, and reposed great confidence in him. 

He was at this time in command of the Second 
Corps. When the preliminary action under Reynolds, 
which resulted in his death, and which brought on the 
battle of Gettj^sburg, was reported to Meade, far back in 
the rear, he despatched, as he says, " General Hancock 
to represent 'me on the field.''' No higher compliment 
could have been paid him. But this was not all; he told 



AT GETTYSBURG. 301 

him if lie discovered a good position for fighting a bat- 
tle to select it. Hancock at once hurried to the field, and 
found Howard, who had succeeded Rejniolds, fallen back 
on Cemetery Hill. In conjunction with him, he decided 
that that was the very spot on which to decide the fate of 
the capital ; and so reported to Meade. The latter says, 
"These reports being favorable, I determined to give bat- 
tle at this point, and early in the evening first issued or- 
ders to all corps to concentrate at Gettysburg.'''' Thus it is 
seen, on General Meade's testimony, that Hancock, whom 
he '•''despatched to represe^it him on the field^'' with How- 
ard, really fixed the battle-field which gave us the vic- 
tory. Had the rebels occupied it first, and forced us to 
the attack, from which they recoiled, bleeding and broken, 
the result would have been totally different. Under the 
circumstances — when a single battle would decide the fate 
of the national capital, of Maryland, Pennsylvania, and, 
perhaps, of the whole North, it was not a slight responsi- 
bility which Meade put on Hancock. Had the latter erred 
in judgment, or the result proved that he had made a vital 
mistake, his reputation would have been ruined. But 
his militar}^ eye saw at a glance that tlie fortunes of war, 
or Providence, had given them the very position they 
wanted. 

He commanded the left centre on the first day, and 
stood next to Howard on Cemetery Hill. All that day 
he not only held his ground, but sent reinforcements to 
the Third Corps. The next day, he maintained the same 
position till one o'clock in the afternoon, when Lee, after 
a lull in the battle, opened with a hundred and twenty- 
five guns, playing upon the centre and left. For more 
than two hours Hancock stood and took this terrible 
storm, beating with indescribable fury upon his ranks. 



302 MAJOR-GENERAL WINFIELD SCOTT HANCOCK. 

Calm and composed, he let the shot and shell scream, and 
rush, and burst around him; his eyes steadily fixed on 
the enemy's lines, knowing full well that this was only 
the prelude to a still more terrible storm. A little after 
three it came. Dark masses of infantry were seen mov- 
ing out on the field, as the smoke of battle, lifting and 
drifting to the eastward, revealed them to view. Full 
forty-five thousand strong, and three columns deep, all 
moving at the quick-step, driving like a swift cloud-shado^\' 
over the field, they came in magnificent array, straight on 
Hancock. He saw that it was no common shock he was to 
meet, and his artillery at once opened furiously all along 
his line. As the mighty columns drew near, the musketry, 
in one solid sheet of flame, swept the dense formations. 
The ranks of living men went down like grain in front 
of the reaper, but the columns from behind still pressed 
onward to swell the harvest of death. Before this awful 
devastating fire the ranks at length began to waver, when 
the oflficers galloped along the undulating lines with 
flashing swords, and oaths, and appeals, gallantly braving 
death in the vain attempt to stem that fiery flood. 
Hancock saw that this determined advance was telling on 
the courage of his troops, and he too rode along the lines, 
bracmg them up by his presence and voice. 

But the shouting host only moved forward to choke 
with more victims the crater of that volcano, and the 
great decisive charge, on which everything rested, was at 
last broken. Amid the cheers that rolled along our line 
over the victory, Hancock was carried bleeding from the 
field. A bullet had pierced his thigh, and with Gibbon 
also wounded, he lay next day helpless and suffering, 
mourning that he could not be with his gallant corps to 
share with them the danger of the conflict. But only 



IN THE RICHMOND CAMPAIGN. 303 

occasional explosions of artillery met his ear, telling him 
that the battle was not renewed. On the second morn- 
ing, as he lay weak and pale, the news was brought him 
that the enemy was in full retreat. 

Hancock was now for a long time unfit for duty, but 
he could not move among the people without receiving 
testimonials of their love and admiration. 

The next spring, when Grant, as General-in-Chief, be- 
gan his great campaign against Richmond, Hancock was 
assigned command of the left wing of his grand army. 
He was not yet wholl}' recovered from his wound, and 
his friends and admirers in New York, fearing that he 
could not keep the saddle, at least all the time, presented 
him with a magnificent barouche, so that he could travel 
with comfort at the head of his old Second Corps. He, 
however, did not use it, preferring in its stead an army 
ambulance. 

When Grant in his onward movement crossed the 
Rapidan, Hancock, crossing at Ely's Ford, led the ad- 
vance for the centre, and with Sedgewick on the right, 
received the first rebel attack. To say that he bore him- 
self magnificently in this fight, would be only to read 
over again the record of his life. Desperately pressed by 
overwhelming numbers suddenly concentrated against 
him, he was in danger of being borne away. Hastening 
to the front, he rallied his men, and in doing so received 
a second wound, though in this case a slight one. Says 
an officer : " solid masses of the enemy, line after line, were 
hurled upon him ; but they were met and repulsed." 
The ground in his front was fought over four or five 
times. 

When Lee retreated to Spottsylvania Court House, 
Hancock, crossing the Po Creek near the place, seized 



304 MAJOR-GENERAL WINFIELD SCOTT HANCOCK. 

the Block House road, and threw up a double line of 
breastworks, working all night to finish them. "It was 
a very pretty sight. The lanterns of the workmen hang- 
ing to the blossoming cherry trees, and picturesque groups 
of soldiers digging and erecting the works, while batteries 
stood harnessed up, their cannoniers lying on the ground 
around the carriages in wait for any emergency." 

He afterward crossed the Po river, and took up his 
position in front of the enemy^s intrenchments. Here on 
the 12th of May, he made one of the most brilliant and 
successful assaults of the war. The attacking columns 
were formed before it was full daylight, and just in the 
grey of the da^vn moved swiftly and without firing a shot 
straight on the ramparts, at whose base stretched a deep, 
wide ditch. The enemy never dreaming of such a bold 
movement, saw before they were aware of it, the soldiers 
pouring like an inundation over the works. Rolled back 
by the sudden and terrific onset, they retreated, fighting, 
for a mile. Made aware of the frightful disaster that had 
overtaken them, the rebel generals hurried up supports, and 
reforming the lines advanced with the determination to 
retake the important position. Five times did Lee hurl 
his army upon it and as often was driven back. The battle 
raged here all day with terrific fury, and the ground was 
literally heaped with the dead. So determined were the 
onsets and so close the death-grapple, that the rebel 
colors and our own would at times be planted on the 
opposite sides of the same works, "the men fighting 
across the parapet." 

For fourteen hours the battle raged, and when it closed, 
the torn and trampled earth presented a scene of horror 
that baffles description. Says one writing from the spot : 
"The angle of the works at which Hancock entered, and 



THE REBEL DEAD. 305 

for the possession of which the savage fight of the day 
was made, is a perfect Golgotha. In this angle of death 
the dead and -wounded rebels lie, this morning, literally 
in piles — men in the agonies of death groaning beneath 
the dead bodies of their comrades. On an area of a few 
acres in the rear of their position, lie not less than a 
thousand rebel corpses, many literally torn to shreds by 
hundreds of balls, and several with bayonet thrusts through 
and through their bodies, pierced on the very margins of 
the parapet, which they were determined to retake or 
perish in the attempt. The one exclamation of every 
man who looks on the spectacle is, 'God forbid that I 
should ever gaze upon such a sight again.' " 

The next morning, a little after midnight, the rebels 
made a furious attack again on the position, hoping in the 
darkness to surprise Hancock's wearied troops, but after 
three hours' desperate fighting, were again repulsed. It 
is said that Hancock never appeared better than in this 
fight. The lofty spirit of a knight of the olden time 
beamed in his handsome countenance, and was imparted 
to his enthusiastic troops. 

He captured, in this most brilliant dash of the war, 
an entire division, four thousand strong, and thirty guns. 

Hancock knew one of the rebel generals captured, 
but happening first to meet Johnson, whom he did not 
know, like a preux chevalier as he is, he advanced and 
gave him his hand. Johnson burst into tears, exclaiming 
that he would have preferred death to captivity. Stuart he 
knew, and advanced with all the frankness and generosity 
of his great heart, with his hand extended, saying, in 
tones least calculated to give him pain, and to put him at 
his ease, " How are you, Stuart." The latter, however, 
mortified and stung by his disgrace, drew himself up, 



306 MAJOR-GENERAL WINFIELD SCOTT HANCOCK. 

with true Soutliern hauteur, and, withdrawing his hand, 
sullenly replied, "I am General Stuart, of the Confeder- 
ate army, and under present circumstances I decline to 
take your hand."" Hancock, instead of taking offence at 
this, and making the captive feel his position, as he had 
the power to do, only smiled, and replied, " And under 
any other circumstances, general, I should have de- 
clined it.'' Hancock, though a magnanimous man, still 
knows how to rebuke an insolent enemy. A keener, bet- 
ter repartee cannot be found than this. It at the same 
time asserts, and yet solely by implication, his own per- 
sonal and relative superiority, and rebukes, in the same 
way, Stuart's false assumption of it, and ridiculous at- 
tempt to escape from the unpleasantness of his position. 
When Grant found that he could not take the strong po- 
sition of the enemy here by a direct attack, he determined 
to flank; and, on the 18tli, ordered Hancock and Wright 
to attack the rebel left, as though he ^vere about to carry 
the entrenchments on that . extremity. The assault was 
kept up till we lost 1,200 men, and then the columns 
were withdrawn. At night, Torbert's cavalry moved off 
ten miles east of Spottsylvania, on the Fredericksburg 
railroad, to clear the contemplated flank movement. On 
the 20th, Hancock, with the Second Corps, followed the 
cavalry, and reached Milford bridge, only forty miles from 
Richmond. On the 23d, he attacked the enemy, cap- 
tured the fort at Taylor's bridge, and all this and the next 
day was almost constantly engaged. Again and again, 
the rebels attempted to retake the bridge which he had 
stormed, but were as often repulsed. What he once laid 
his strong grasp on, it was hard to wrest away again. 
When Grant, finding the enemy too strongly entrenched 
here to be assailed successfully, determined on anothei" 



HIS RESIGNATION. 307 

flank movement across the Pamunkey, Hancock brought 
up the rear. 

In all the movements and fighting that followed, un- 
til the army was safely across the James river, Hancock 
continued to bear an important part. His corps could 
always be relied upon when any hard work was to be 
done. With Baldy Smith, he carried the outer works of 
Petersburg. 

When, on the 2 2d of June, the Second Corps was re- 
pulsed in an advance upon the toAvn, Hancock was ab- 
sent, not being able to keep the field, on account of his 
old wound. Not yet thoroughly healed when Grant be- 
gan his great campaign, it had grown worse in the terri- 
ble strain to which his system had been subjected for the 
last two months, and it became evident that he must 
have rest, or be permanently disabled. 

A long period of comparative idleness now followed; 
but in the last of October, an attempt was made to cross 
Hatchers Run by the Second Corps; it met with a partial 
reverse, and lost some of its guns and men, and but for 
the great tactical skill and energy of Hancock, would 
have been in all probability routed. But he, with great 
promptness and audacity, checked the momentary suc- 
cess, recovering a part of his guns and prisoners. 

This ended Hancock's fighting for the rest of the war. 
In November, he was relieved from the command of the 
Second Corps, at his own request, and assigned to the 
connnand of the new " Veteran First Corps," which was 
being organized, with headquarters at Washington. 
Recruiting stations were opened everywhere, and soldiers 
who had served their time out, flocked to enlist under the 
banner of this favorite commander. Wherever he went 
he was received with acclamations, and the nation de- 

20 



308 MAJOR-GENERAL WLNFIELD SCOTT HANC0CK. 

lighted to do him honor. His stirring appeals were 
never in vain, and great things were expected of this 
Veteran Corps when it once took the field. 

After Sheridan, in his great raid to the James river, 
below Lynchburg, and across the country to the White 
House, finally joined Grant, to remain with him, Han- 
cock was put in command in the Shenandoah Valley, 
where he remained till the close of the war. Afterwards 
he was placed in command of the Middle Department 
of the Military Division of the Atlantic with headquar- 
ters at New York City. After Grant became president 
he was sent, 1869, to the department of Dakota, but on 
the death of General Meade in 1872, he was returned 
to his old command with headquarters in New York, 
His great popularity naturally caused the Democratic 
party, to which he belonged, to mention him as their 
candidate for president, and he was nominated for that 
office in the Cincinnati Convention of 1880. Being de- 
feated in the subsequent election in November, he con- 
tinued to hold his command until his death in 1886. 

His last appearance in public was as superintendent 
of the arrangements of General Grant's funeral, and one 
of the most touching incidents of it was the appearance 
of the Confederate Generals S. B. Buckner and Fitz 
Hugh Lee riding side by side with him in the solemn 
procession that bore the great chieftain to his grave. 
Lee and Hancock were alike in one thing, — " Preux 
Chevaliers " — men of the knightly stamp. 

General Hancock was of a fine personal appearance, 
and would anywhere in a crowd be picked out by a 
stranger as a remarkable man. His lofty, chivalric 
spirit found expression in his noble countenance, and 
pjave additional interest to his well-formed features. His 



HIS CHAEAOTEE. 309 

whole bearing was martial and showed that by nature 
he was formed for the profession which he adorned. 
Ever ready for battle and always at home in its uproar 
and perilous chances, he nevertheless was prudent and 
cautious in his movements. With great tactical skill 
on the field, and prudence in the management of his 
troops, yet his assaults were made with all the abandon 
and apparent recklessness of desperation. He was the 
impersonation of a hero to his troops, and they were as 
proud of his fame as of their own victories. 

His natural character was not wholly of the Ameri- 
can type, but seemed to belong more to the chivalric 
ages. Grand, yet courteous, he was known throughout 
the army as the soul of honor. He was too knightly 
not to admire a brave enemy, and had none of that 
bitter, revengeful spirit which unsuccessful officers in 
the field regard as an evidence of their bravery. He 
could not strike a fallen foe. It is curious to see what 
a different spirit existed in those heroic men who had 
won oui* victories, such as Grant, Sherman, McPherson, 
and Hancock, and many others that might be named, 
and the whole race of political warriors. 

Like Sedgwick — by whose side he had often fought 
— and Thomas and McPherson, Hancock seemed to have 
no enemies, and to have passed through disasters and 
victories alike, with no spot on his name. There must be 
some extraordinary combination of qualities in such men 
when they can pass through scenes that throw the nation 
into paroxysms of rage and mortification and yet never 
come within the scope of its blind passion. Striking out 
wildly, as it does in moments of defeat and disgrace, and 
hitting innocent and guilty alike, it seems miraculous 
that none of the blows should light upon their heads. 



CHAPTER XTV. 

MAJOR-GENERAL HUGH JUDSON KILPATRICK. 

HIS BIRTH AND EARLY LIFE — ENTERS WEST POINT — WHIPS A BULLY — 
LEAVES FOR THE ARMY BEFORE HE COMPLETES HIS COURSE— HIS MAR- 
RIAGE — BECOJIES AN OFFICER IN DURYEa's ZOUAVES — WOUNDED AT BIG 
BETHEL — MADE LIEUTENANT-COLONEL IN THE HARRIS LIGHT CAVALRY — 
SEIZES FALMOUTH — CHASE AFTER THE REBEL COMMANDER — GALLANT 
OPERATIONS AROUND FREDERICKSBURG — HIS SERVICES IN POPE'S CAM- 
PAIGN — UNDER HOOKER — RAID ON RICHMOND — HIS FIGHTS PREVIOUS TO 
THE BATTLE OF GETTYSBURG, AND IN IT — DARING PURSUIT OF LEE — A 
FEARFUL NIGHT MARCH — SCENE AT SMITHBURG — FIGHT AT HAGERSTOWN 
— MARCH TO WILLIAMSPORT — FIGHT AT — CHARGE AT FALLING WATERS — 
SUMMING UP OF HIS ACHIEVEMENTS — OBTAINS A FURLOUGH — OPERATIOKS 
ON THE RAPIDAN AND RAPPAHANNOCK, UNDER MEADE — GALLANT AT- 
TEMPT TO RELEASE THE PRISONERS IN RICHMOND — ENTERS THE OUT- 
WORKS OF THE REBEL CAPITAL-^SENT WEST TO JOIN SHERMAN — IS 
WOUNDED AT RESACA AND RETURNS HOME — AGAIN JOINS THE ARMY BE- 
FORE ATLANTA — SENT TO CUT THE RAILROADS — COMMANDS THE CAVALRY 
IN THE GEORGIA CAMPAIGN — ACCOUNT OF HIS SERVICES — COMPLIMENTED 
BY SHERMAN — CAMPAIGN OF THE CAROLINAS — THREATENS AUGUSTA — HIS 
SURPRISE BY HAMPTON AND NARROW ESCAPE — RETALIATION ON THE 
ENEMY — AVERYSRORO — HIS GALLANTRY AT BENTONVILLE — HIS ADDRESS 
TO HIS TROOPS — HIS CHARACTER. 

It is notorious that war makes and unmakes reputa- 
tions rapidly. A struggle of a few hours may give a 
man a name that is mentioned with honor over the civi- 
lized world, or inflict on him an equally wide but painful 
celebrity. But we believe that neither our history nor 
that of any other nation furnishes an instance of a mere 
cadet, vaulting almost at a bound to the highest rank in 



WHIPS A BULLY. 311 

the army, as in the case of Kilpatrick — to-day a pupil 
at West Point in gray — in three years a youth of only 
twenty-six, wearing two stars on his shoulders. If this 
sudden elevation had been brought about by political or 
social influence, it might not seem so remarkable, except 
as a striking illustration of the power of favoritism, but 
when it is known that it has been the result of merit 
alone, of downright hard work in the field, it is mar- 
vellous. 

Hugh Judson Kilpatrick was born in the Valley of 
the Clove, Northern New Jersey, in 1838, and hence is 
one of the youngest of v^^ar generals. His father was a 
large and respectable farmer, and able to give his son the 
advantage of an early education. At the age of seven- 
teen, he entered with great ardor into politics, and was 
chosen delegate to the State Convention. He delivered 
speeches in favor of the reelection of Mr. Vail, member 
of Congress from his district, which undoubtedly had 
much to do in securing him the appointment as cadet in 
West Point, where he entered on the 20th of June, 1856. 

Though small, he was plucky, resolute, fearless, and 
self-confident, and showed while here some of the finest 
qualities that uo to make up a soldier. He was good- 
tempered and -enial, but a dangerous boy to attempt to 
bull}'. Being promoted to the rank of cadet officer, he 
had occasion, in the discharge of his duties, to reprove 
one of the largest students in the school for misbehaviour. 
The latter, relying on his size and strength, made an in- 
solent reply, and added that if he reported him he would 
get a sound thrashing. He could not have taken a surer 
wa\- to get reported, as he most promptly was, by young 
Kilpatrick. The consecjuence was that the bull}' attacked 
him on the first opportunity. Kilpatrick was small, but 



312 MAJOR-GENERAL HUGH JUDSON KILPATRICK. 

made up in agility and skill what he lacked in weight , 
and, though he suffered severely in the conflict that fol- 
lowed, he stuck to his powerful antagonist for nearly 
three quarters of an hour, till the latter was compelled to 
jield, confessing himself handsomely whipped. He was 
soon after court-martialed, and dismissed the Academy. 
This, of course, made Kilpatrick very popular — as the 
pluck and endurance which overcome superior strength 
and size always do — and he was eventually chosen to de- 
liver the valedictory of his class, in which he graduated 
fifteenth. He, however, did not stay the full year out, 
which closed in June, 1861. The attack on Fort Sum- 
ter, and the inauguration of the rebellion in the spring, 
fired him with such an ardent desire to be in active ser- 
vice, that he felt he could not wait till the end of the 
Academic year, and he and two others drew up a petition 
in April, which was signed b}' thirty out of the class of 
fifty, asking to be allowed to graduate at once, and finish 
their education on the battlcTfield. Their request was 
granted, and the class at once graduated, Kilpatrick de- 
livering the valedictory. 

Being already betrothed, and the affianced bride feel- 
ing that she could not be denied the right to be near him 
if wounded, they were at once married, and proceeded to 
Washington together. Young Kilpatrick was made an 
officer in Duryea's Zouaves, and repaired to Fortress 
Monroe. On the 11th of June, in the unfortunate battle 
of Big Bethel, he, with a part of the Zouaves, by march- 
ing all night, surprised the rebel pickets a mile from the 
place, and captured them. In the engagement that fol- 
lowed he was wounded by a grape-shot in the thigh. 
But, though racked with pain, the plucky yoimg officer 
refused to leave the ground, and still led his men to the 



SEIZES FALMOUTH. 313 

charge, until at length, faint with the loss of blood, he 
was borne from his first battle-field. 

He did not recover from the effects of this wound 
sufficiently to take the field again until September, when 
McClellan had command of the army. He was now 
made lieutenant-colonel in the Harris Light Cavalry, and 
promoted to first lieutenant of the First Artillery regular 
army. 

During the winter, besides having his own duties to 
attend to, he was made a member of an Examining Board 
for examining cavalry officers of the volunteer service, 
and Inspector-General of McDowell's division. In March, 
when the Army of the Potomac moved on Manassas, his 
regiment led the advance ; but on its transfer to the Pen- 
insula, he remained behind under the command of Mc- 
Dowell. In April, this general was directed to occupy 
Fredericksburg, preparatory to a co-operating movement 
with McClellan on Hichmond. Falmouth, opposite the 
place, was the first point of attack, and on the 17th, at 
daylight, Kilpatrick, with the Harris Light Cavalry, 
moved off in advance of the column sent to capture it. 

It was a warm spring day, and in the afternoon over- 
coats and blankets became oppressive to both mei and 
horses, and they were pitched off by the roadside. Twelve 
miles beyond Catlett's Station, the enemy's pickets were 
encountered and driven in, and followed in hot pursuit for 
eight miles. At length Kilpatrick approached the rebel camp, 
when he ordered his bugles to sound the charge, and dashing 
forward, scattered ' the enemy like frightened sheep. He 
had marched twenty-six miles, and so now bivouacked in 
the rebel camp for the night. But at one o'clock next 
morning, the bugle sounded " boots and saddles," and the 
regiment pressed forward, when it came upon a barricade 



314 MAJOR-GENERAL HUGH JUDSON KILPATRICK. 

of rails across tlie road, behind which the enemy laj 
Without a moment's hesitation, Kilpatrick ordered a 
charge, and the bold troopers rode Hke mad over the 
obstruction, and at daylight galloped into Falmouth. 
The rebel commander was out examining the pickets at 
the time Kilpatrick's troopers came clattering down the 
road, and instantly turned in flight. But the latter 
having caught sight of him, at once put spurs to his horse 
and dashed after in hot pursuit. It was an exciting 
chase ; but the rebel officer was either better mounted, or 
his horse was fresher than Kilpatrick's, for after a fierce 
ride of four miles he succeeded in escaping. 

Afterward, when Pope assumed command of the 
army, Kilpatrick was directed to break up the railroad 
running from Gordonsville to Richmond, and thus sever 
Lee's communications. He struck it at Beaver Dam, 
Frederick Hall and Hanover Junction, burning stations, 
spreading ruin in his track, and filling the country with 
alarm. He marched eighty miles in thirty hours, and 
again reached Fredericksburg late Sunday evening, fol- 
lowed by the rebels. The latter continuing to lurk in the 
ncinity, Kilpatrick having rested his command, started 
out with about four hundred men to hunt them up. 
Leaving Fredericksburg at four o'clock in the afternoon, 
he marched sixteen miles and encamped. Mounting at 
two o'clock in the morning, he pushed on, reaching Mount 
Carmel at daylight. Meeting near here a force of the 
enemy, he charged them, and drove them back into and 
over the North Anna river in utter confusion. Pushing 
across he continued the pursuit, till he at length came 
upon them drawn up on the road in columns of platoons, 
with dismounted men on either side armed with rifles. 
With singular audacity, Kilpatrick, with Major Davies 



HIS AUDACITY. 315 

and Captain Walters, rode forward alone to reconnoitre, 
and actually held conversation with the rebels. He 
had scarcely returned to his command, when the enemy 
opened on him Nv^ith their rifles and carbines. One shot 
aimed at Kilpatrick, struck a horse's head in front of him, 
and passed clean through it, which so deadened its force 
that when it reached him it fell harmless to the ground. 
Tlie skirmishers now pressed forward on both sides, jeer- 
ing each other in the intervals of the shots. At length 
the order of the rebel commander was heard, " By pla- 
toons, left about wheel,'' when instantly our bugles souml- 
ed the charge, and away the rebels went helter-skelter 
down the road toward Hanover Junction. Here they 
took refuge behind reinforcements, and Kilpatrick wheel- 
ed, and rode back to the abandoned camp and commenced 
the destruction of property. A railroad train loaded 
with grain, wagons, tools and commissary stores, &c., 
were fired. While fires were still raging, a large body 
of Stuart's cavalry suddenly appeared in sight. Had 
they charged at once, that would probably have been the 
last of Kilpatrick, for they outnumbered him three to 
one, and he ^vas totally unprepared for them. But they 
halting to reconnoitre, Kilpatrick suddenly threw a pla- 
toon across the road, and sounding the rally, was in a few 
moments ready for the conflict. Instead of looking about 
to see how he could eflect a safe retreat, he with his 
usual daring determined to attack, and sending round 
Davies to assail them in flank while he charged them in 
front, he actually drove this superior force in flight down 
the railroad. Pursuing as far as he deemed prudent, and 
kindling fires along the track, he leisurely retraced his 
steps, reaching Fredericksburg at midnight on the 23d, 
liaving ridden seventy-four miles in twenty-four hours. 



316 MAJOR-GENERAL HUGH JUDSON KILPATRICK. 

It was very plain that horse-flesh, if nothing else, would 
suffer under this tireless commander. In the rebel camp 
he found a paper stating that General Stuart was build- 
ing a bridge over the North Anna; so he left a note for 
him, telling him he need not trouble himself farther about 
the bridge, as he would give him all he could attend to 
on the other side. 

In the disastrous campaign of Pope that followed, he 
did efficient sendee. The whole cavalry force being under 
Bayard, was employed chiefly in protecting the Rapidan, 
and covering the retreat of the army. In the perform- 
ance of the arduous duties laid upon him, and the various 
movements and battles that occurred, he enlarged his ex- 
perience, and went through a useful training, preparatory 
to the wider field he was destined to occupy. 

The cavalry took no important part in the unfortunate 
campaign of Burnside, and was south of Washington 
while the battles of South Mountain and Antietam were 
filling the country with joy. 

When Hooker took command, the scattered cavalry 
regiments were again brought together, and the whole 
reorganized and placed under Stoneman. 

In the following spring, when Hooker commenced his 
movement across the Rappahannock, he sent his cavalry 
force to the rear of Lee, to break up his communications, 
and prevent his retreat. Kilpatrick commanded a brigade 
in the commencement of this extraordinary movement. 
When Stoneman divided his forces, assigning to each its 
peculiar task, Kilpatrick, with his regiment, numbering 
some 450 men, was sent to burn the railroad and bridges 
over the Chickahominy, five miles from RichmondL 
Though the country was swarming with the enemy, he 
skilfully avoided the large bodies, and scattering the smaU 



RAID AROUND LEE's ARMY. 317 

ones that he encountered, rode rapidly forward till he 
came within two miles of the rebel capital. '' Here,"" he 
says, " I captured Lieutenant Brown, aid-de-camp to Gen- 
eral Winder, and eleven men within the fortifications. I 
then passed down to the left to the Meadow Bridge, on 
the Chickahominy, which I burned, ran a train of cars 
into the river, retired to Hanovertown, on the peninsula, 
crossed just in time to check the advance of a pursuing 
cavalry force, burned a train of thirty wagons loaded with 
bacon, captured thirteen prisoners, and encamped for the 
night five miles from the river. I resumed my march at 
one A. M. of the 5th, surprised a force of three hundred 
cavalry of Aylett's, captured two officers and thirty-three 
men, burned fifty-six wagons and the depot, containing up- 
wards of twenty thousand barrels of corn and wheat, quan- 
tities of clothing, and commissary stores, and safely crossed 
the Mattapony, and destroyed the ferry again, just in time 
to escape the rebel cavalry pursuit. Late in the evening, I 
destroyed a third wagon train and depot, a few miles 
above and west of Tappahannock, and from that point 
made a forced march of twenty miles, closely followed by 
a superior force of cavalry." He then kept on, and at 
length " on the 7th, found safety witldn our lines, at 
Gloucester Point.' He had made a march around the 
rebel army of nearly two hundred miles in less than five 
days, having captured and paroled upwards of eight 
hundred prisoners, Avith a loss to his little connnand of 
only one officer and thirty-seven men. 

When Lee, following up Hooker s defeat at Chancel- 
lorsville, commenced his great movement around Wash- 
ington into Maryland, the cavalry was again brought into 
active service. Hooker, hearing that Lee had massed 
his cavahy near Beverly Ford, and by the clouds oi dust 



318 MAJOR-GENERAL HUGH JUDSON KILPATRICK. 

that rolled away towards CuljDepper, suspecting his wily 
adversary was making some great movement, sent out his 
cavalry to make a reconnoissance. Pleasanton in com- 
mand, moved forward, and came upon the enemy at 
Brandy Station, when the severest cavalry fight of the 
war, thus far, took place. Determined charges were 
made on both sides, and hour after hour the flashing 
sabres drank blood, but neither ^vould yield the field. 
During the engagement, Gregg came very near being 
overborne, when Kilpatrick made one of his gallant 
charges. He was posted with three regiments — the Harris 
Light, Tenth New York, and First Maine — on a slight 
elevation, and looking on the plain below filled with the 
charging squadrons, he saw Gregg, though bravely fight- 
ing, falling back. Fired at the sight, he flung out his 
battle flag and ordered the bugles to sound the charge. 
In echelon of squadrons by regiments, down came the 
brigade like a loosened clifl" on the heavy columns of the 
foe — the Tenth New York in advance. It fell with a 
shout on the rebel squadrons, but rebounded from the 
blo"\\' and swung off: The Harris Light, following close 
on its heels, repeated the charge, but was also borne back. 
Stung into madness at the sight of his own regiment re- 
pulsed and shattered, he flung himself at the head of the 
First Maine, still further in the rear, and moving forward 
on a walk, shouted : " Men of Maine, }^ou must save the 
day; follow me!*" Closing grandly up, the regiment 
marched off' behind its leader, who circled to the right, till 
he got on the flank of the enemy, when he ordered the 
bugles to sound the charge, and coming down in a wild 
gallop, struck the enemy like a thunderbolt, forcing back 
his hitherto steady line. As the clattering tempest sAvept 
[)ast the other two shattered regiments, Kilpatrick shouted 



FIGHT AT ALDIE. 319 

out, over the tumult : " Buck, the Harris Light ! Back, 
the Tenth New York ! Reform your squadrons and 
charge ! " 

The field \vas won ; but a heavy body of" infantry 
coming up to reinforce the cavalry, Pleasanton withdrew 
across the Rappahannock. 

Kilpatrick was now made brigadier, and in the fight 
at Aldie, which occurred shortly after, again met Lee. 
Ordered by Pleasanton to push through Ashby's Gap and 
ascertain the whereabouts of the rebel army that was 
moving so leisurely around Washington, he suddenly 
came upon the advance guard of Fitzhugh Lee at Aldie. 
Securing a strong position he resisted every attempt of 
the enemy to dislodge him, although charge after charge 
was made. After one of these fierce onsets, Colonel. 
Cesnola, of the Fourth New York, from some miscon- 
ception of his conduct was placed under arrest, and his 
sword taken from him. But soon after, seeing his regiment 
cliarge and then waver and fall back, he forgot his arrest, 
and all weaponless as he was, galloped to its head, and 
with cap instead of sword in hand, led them bravely to 
the shock. Kilpatrick saw the action, and chivalrous 
himself, he could not but admire this gallant deed, and 
riding up to him as he came back from the charge, he 
said, " Colonel, you are a brave man ! You are released 
from arrest," and unbuckling his sword handed it to him, 
saying, " Here, take my sword and wear it in honor of this 
day ! " No wonder his next charge was fierce as a storm, 
m which the brave fellow fell, desperately wounded, and 
was taken prisoner. 

• Jjater in the day, when the tide of battle set against 
him ,and his squadrons were borne back, he again put him- 
self at the head of the First Maine as at Brandy Station, 



320 MAJOR-GENERAL HUGH JUDSON KILPATRICK. 

and leading it in person, charged with such desperation, 
that the enemy broke and fled. His horse was killed 
under him in this onset ; but, mounting another, he 
ordered the whole line to advance. Lee fell back before 
it, and turned in flight, followed hard after by Kilpatrick 
till night put a stop to the pursuit. The next morning 
he made a sabre charge mto the town of Upperville, driv- 
ing the enemy out of it in affright. 

Soon after, when Hooker was relieved and Meade j^ut in 
his place, Kjl23atrick was given command of General Stahfs 
division of 5, 000 men. The cavalry corps was divided at 
this time into three great divisions, this division constitut- 
ing one, Buford and Gregg commanding the other two. 
The rebel General Stuart did not cross his cavalry with 
Lee's army, but farther down the Potomac, between 
Hooker and Washington, and pushed on toward the capi- 
tal, thro^ving it into the wildest consternation. Kilpatrick, 
with his division, was sent after him. But on the last 
day of June, while halting at Hanover, he was suddenly 
attacked by Stuart's whole force. He did not know the 
latter was in the vicinity till he heard his bugles m his 
rear and on his flank. It was a perilous moment for 
him, and a less prompt man would have been overwhelm- 
ed ; but he quickly tbrmed his squadrons, and though 
Stuart led the charge in person, it was repulsed. Still, for 
a while victory hung in the balance, and not till after a 
struggle of four hours did he finally succeed in shaking 
off his enemy. A little boy named Smith, only twelve 
years old, a bugler in the First Maine, charged bravely 
with his regiment and had his horse killed under him. 
The little fellow's gallant bearing so pleased Kilpa- 
trick, that he at once adopted him as his aid, and ever 
after where the General was, whether on the march 



PURSUIT OF LEE. 321 

or in the headlong charge, he was sure to be found at 
his side. 

On the 2d of July, Kilpatrick made a forced march 
to Heidlesberg, to. intercept Stuart, who was on his way 
to join Lee's army, but the latter had gamed a march on 
lii!n, and so slipped through. He now received orders 
to join the main army at Two Taverns, which he 
I'eached about daylight on the third day of July. Three 
hours later the column was again in motion, and at eleven 
o'clock attacked the enemy's right flank at Gettysburg. 
Here a desperate fight occurred, in which, after a long 
;.nd severe struggle, Farns worth, who commanded the force 
making it, was killed, and the three regiments under him 
terribly cut up. The enemy concentrating a heavy force at 
this point, as Kilpatrick threatened his ammunition trains, 
tlie latter was compelled to fall back ; and night coming 
on with a heavy thunder-storm, he retired two or three 
miles and bivouacked. Next morning, the ever memor- 
able 4th, it was ascertained that the enemy was in full 
retreat, and Kilpatrick was immediately started in pursuit 
to harass his rear and capture his trains. Amid a pelting 
rain storm his column pushed on all day, and at noon 
reached Emmettsburg. Drenched and weary, it halted 
here only for a short time, and then hurried forward to- 
wards the mountain, the base of which it reached just at 
dark. The road up it was dug along the steep sides, and 
only wide enough for four horses to move abreast, 'while 
from its lower edge a deep abyss sank away. Up this 
narrow, unknown way, in a drizzling raiu, and enveloped 
in darkness so deep that the riders, though jostling together, 
could not see each other, the exhausted, sleepy soldiers 
on their weary animals slowly toiled, the heavy tread of 
the horses and the jingling of the steel scabbards, the only 



322 MAJOR-GENERAL HUGH JUDSON KILPATRICK. 

sounds that broke the deep silence ; until near the top, when 
suddenly a mouth of fire opened in the gloom, and the 
thunder of a cannon shook the heights, while down along 
the narrow way came the fiery hail-storm. Though on 
the look-out for danger, the column was startled at the 
suddenness of the discharge, and before it had time to 
recover, from either side came a rattling fire of musketry, 
lighting up with a strange glow that rocky mountain sum- 
mit. The leading squadron broke and fell back on the 
second, which also broke, and for a moment the narrow 
road was jammed with men and horses struggling in the 
darkness. But that long column, winding for miles away 
down the mountain side could not wheel about, and so 
the broken squadrons were rallied, skirmishers dismount- 
ed and thrown out, and the First Virginia ordered to the 
front. Forming as best they could, in the gloom, the 
bugles sounded the charge, and across the summit and 
doAvn the farther side into the inky darkness the fearless 
riders plunged. Clearing the way before them, they kept 
on till they came upon Ewelfs long train, guarded by 
four regiments. Firing a volley, they cried " Do you sur- 
render?" "Yes," was the reply, and for eight miles the 
cavalry swept along the train that had come to a halt. 
A heavy thunder-storm now broke along the mountain, 
which, combined with the roar of torrents down its 
sides, and the howling of the wind, joined to the 
shouts and oaths and curses of men, added incon 
ceivable terror to the scene. At length the welcome 
morning dawned, Avhen Kilpatrick disposed of his prison- 
ers as he best could, and burned such wngons as he could 
not get off. Soon after, the whole command, wet, weary, 
hungry and splashed with mud, halted for a short rest. 
In a few minutes all were asleep save the guard, Kil^ 



A PLEASANT WELCOME. 323 

patrick among the rest. After two hours of sucli rest as 
they could get in the falling rain, the bugles again sound- 
ed " forward," and the column moved on to Smithburg, 
which it reached about nine o'clock. It was Sunday ; the 
storm had now cleared away, and the summer sun shone 
brightly on the smiling landscape, while young girls lined 
the streets, loaded with flowers and singing patriotic songs. 
As Kilpatrick and his mud-besplashed troopers passed 
along, bouquets without number were showered upon them, 
and the older ladies, with tears in their eyes, came forth 
with plates heaped with snowy bread for their refreshment. 
Such songs of welcome and gladness and joy after that 
stormy night's ride and tight in the mountains, was like 
waking from a troubled dream to find one's self amid 
flowers and music. It aroused the nodding band of the 
column, and it struck up "Hail, Columbia," and "The Star 
Spangled Banner," till that little village overflowed with 
joy and thanksgiving. But all this was soon changed, 
for the enemy, enraged at Kilpatrick's daring pursuit, 
sent a heavy force against him which now came charging 
with yells upon the place. Finding they could not drive him 
out, they planted a battery on a commanding eminence and 
commenced shelling the town. Though they outnumbered 
him, Kilpatrick, by the skilful disposition of liis forces, kept 
them at bay all day. After dark he moved ofl" towards 
Boonesboro, which he reached just before midnight. 

Early next morning, hearing that the enemy had 
a train near HagerstOAvn, he marched on that place. 
Coming upon the enemy's pickets at the edge of the town, 
he charged and drove them, and riding fiercely into the 
place, struck the head of the enemy's column that was 
just entering it. Up and down the streets his brave 
troopers rode, scattering the enemy before them, but he 

21 



324 MAJOR-GENERAL HUGH JUDSON KILPATR[CK. 

soon discovered that this force, composed of infantry, 
cavalry, and artillery, was too heavy for him, and his 
command having already suffered severely, he determined, 
if possible, to get away, and move off t'oward Williams- 
port. This was a difficult undertaking in presence of the 
enemy, but he accomplished it, and galloped swiftly along 
the road, on which he placed the First Vermont and 
Fifth New York as a rear-guard. On this the rebels 
came with overAvhelming force, and a fierce and sangui- 
nary fight followed. But the noble rear-guard knew the 
importance of the trust committed to it, and held its 
ground with unflinching fii'mness. Compelled to yield 
one position, it would take another, and dispute it to the 
last. It did its duty nobly, and though it could not 
effectually stop the enemy, it delayed him till Kilpatrick, 
with the main column, was beyond his reach. Its 
manoied horses and slain men scattered alono; the road 
attested its fidelity. 

Reaching the top of a hill that overlooked Williams- 
port, about four o'clock, Kilpatrick was greeted with the 
sound of battle from Buford's command that was hotly 
engaged with the enemy. He immediately threw out his 
skirmishers, and began to plant his batteries, but before 
liis orders could be fully carried out, he heard the sound of 
fii'ino- in his rear. Bidinp; to where he could command 
the road for a long distance, he discovered his rear-guard 
falling back in disorder. With the rebels in front and 
rear, he saw at once the peril of his position. For one 
moment he sat tapping his boot in anxious thought ; the 
next he ordered the Harris Light to charge the enemy, 
now thundering down with pealing bugles and shouts oi 
his rear-guard. This noble regiment, leaning forward on 
their horses, with dra^vn sabres, drove full on the exult- 



THE WORK OF TWO WEEKS. 325 

ant, confident foe, and hurled him back over the road. 
This gave Ealpatrick time to form his command for a re- 
treat, which he did so skilfully, that he fell back for three 
miles, fighting as he went, and punishing the enemy so 
severely that he was able to go into camp unmolested. 
His weary men, covered by Buford's command, which 
kept the enemy in check, went to sleep on the spot where 
they halted. 

The next morning he moved back to Boonesboro, and 
on the following day fought the enemy again, and forced 
him back to Antietam Creek. Thursday and Friday he 
was almost constantly engaged with the enemy, and on 
Saturday again defeating him, he boldly turned the head 
of his column once more toward Ha&erstown. Meetino; 
the skirmishers two miles out, he drove them in, and 
after a fight of one hour rode into the town and occupied 
it. He remained here Monday and Tuesday, anxious to 
move forward, for he fully believed that Lee was crossing 
the Potomac ; but could get no orders to do so. Chafing 
under his inactivity while he knew the enemy was escap- 
ing, he resolved at last to wait no longer, and assuming 
the responsibility, he moved ofi" toward Williamsport, and 
actually chased a part of Lee's rear-guard into the river, 
taking many prisoners. Hearing that a portion of the 
rebel force had marched toward Falling Waters, he 
moved rapidly ofi" in that direction, and was in the fight 
that killed General Pettigrew, and scattered his four 
brigades, taking 1,500 prisoners, three battle-flags, and 
two guns. 

For over two weeks Kilpatrick had now been almost 
constantly in the saddle, fighting upon an average a battle 
per day, and riding hundreds of miles. His division, at 
the outset, consisted of some 5,000 men, and now at the 



326 MAJOR-GENERAL HlGH JIDSON KILPATRICK. 

end of this strange campaign, lie reported 4,500 pri* 
oners captured, with nine guns, and eleven battle-flags. 

But for the great battle of Gettysburg that over- 
shadowed all minor operations, the country would have 
rung with his exploits. Had he been allowed to have 
his o"svn way, when at Hagersto^vn, Lee would never have 
got across the Potomac almost unscathed as he did. 

The tremendous strain he had put upon his men and 
horses rendered his command unfit for immediate use, and 
broke doAvn for awhile even the iron constitution of Kil- 
patrick, and obtaining a furlough to recruit his shattered 
constitution, he returned to his quiet home on the Hud- 
son, at West Point. 

In the middle of September, when Meade resolved to 
advance on Lee, then encamped along the south shore of 
th? Rapidan, Kilpatrick again joined his command. Stu- 
art's cavalry was at Culpepper, and Pleasanton was di- 
rected to drive him out. While the main portion of the 
force moved directly upon the place, Kilpatrick was sent 
across the country, and came down upon it Irom the di- 
rection of Stevensburg. Some time after Buford and 
Gregg had been engaging the eiiem}^, he reached his 
assigned position, and charged down into the place under 
a heavy fire of artillery, clearing the streets like a 
whirlwind, and capturing three Blakely guns in his pas- 
sage. Soon after, when Lee forced Meade to retreat 
across the Rappahannock, and retire to Centreville, 
Pleasanton was directed to remain at Culpepper and 
watch the enem)^ Compelled, to fall back from this place 
through some misunderstanding, Kilpatrick's column be- 
came cut off from the main body, and before he was 
aware of it, he saw Fitzhugh's division of cavalry in 
three lines holding the road in front of him, while hostile 



A GALLANT CHaHGE. 327 

batteries appeared on his right flank, and began to pour 
their tire into him, and large bodies of cavalry were seen 
moving around his left ; in short, he was getting complete- 
ly surrounded. "To make it worse, the chief himself, 
Pleasanton, was with him. Such a sudden revelation natu- 
rally, for a moment, sent dismay through the cavalry ; but 
this was just one of those perilous positions in which the 
genius of Kilpatrick shone out with greatest lustre. 
Coolly giving his orders, he rode out on an elevated posi- 
tion in full view of his own force — only about four thou- 
sand strong — and that of the enemy. At the sight the 
brave fellows sent up a loud shout, and their blades leap- 
ed from their scabbards. With a heavy line of skirmish- 
ers thrown out on all sides, to protect his flanks, he 
formed his command into three columns of a thousand 
each, himself being in the centre, and moved steadily 
down on the enemy. When within a few hundred yards, 
the band struck up Yankee Doodle, and while the excit- 
iiio; strains were still vibratino- on the air, a hundred 
bugles suddenly pealed forth the charge, and leaning for- • 
ward on their horses, and shaking their flashing sabres 
over their heads, these three thousand men dashed for- 
ward with one loud defiant yell. Before their onset, the 
rebel line parted like mist, leaving a wide, open road be- 
fore them, and they moved on and joined the main body. 
The enemy, however, rallied, and concentrating their 
forces, prepared for battle, and the great cavalry fight at 
Brandy Station followed. Here Kilpatrick, with Buford, 
Gregg, Custer, and Davis, all under Pleasanton, enacted 
over their great deeds again. The plains shook to the 
shock of charging squadrons, and gleaming sabres turned 
red with the blood of men. Lons; after twili2:lit closed 
over the tmnultuous scene, the blaze of guns, and the 



328 MAJOR-GENERAL HUGH JUDSON KILPATRICK. 

glinting of steel striking steel, shed a fitful light rvei 
the field. At length the exhausted, b iffled enemy ceased 
his attacks, and the cavalry fell bacl^ with the army to 
Centreville. 

When Meade soon after advanced, Kilpatrick, with 
some two or three thousand men, was sent to clear the 
front, and fell, as the rebels assert, into a trap laid for 
him. At all events, he was attacked by an overwhelm- 
ing force, beaten badly, and barely escaped utter destruc- 
tion. By his daring and rapid movements, however, he 
got back to our lines without the loss of a gun, though 
many prisoners fell into the enemy's hands. The battle 
of Bristoe Station followed, when the arm; went into 
winter quarters. 

At this time, Kilpatrick met his first great sorrow in 
the loss of his young wife and child, though the sad be- 
reavement did not keep him long from the field. In fact, 
he had one less motive to live — one less claim to his 
affections, which he could now give undivided to his 
'country. 

During the following winter, the country became 
much agitated with the reports of the cruel treatment to 
our prisoners at Richmond, and, as no exchange could be 
efiected, by which they could be released from sufferings 
worse than death, Kilpatrick conceived the bold idea of 
rescuing them by force. Learning that Bichmond was 
weakly garrisoned, the troops being mostly with Lee's 
army, he thought by a sudden dash with a large force of 
cavalry in midwinter, when such a movement would be 
least expected, he might be able to reach the prisons where 
they were confined, and release them. Of course the mo- 
ment they were free they would be able to take the city, 
and hold it till other troops could arrive from below, or 



A VAIN BUT NOBLE EFFORT. 329 

3lse march down to Yorktowii. Kil])ati-ick having form- 
ed his plan, and submitted it with all its details to the 
President and Secretary of War, it was, after due delil 
eration, acce])ted. The enterprise they knew to be a 
most hazardous one, but the noble object in view seemed 
to justify the attem])t. 

On the last day of February, this daring leader, with 
4,000 chosen men, left his camp at Stevensburg, and 
marched for Ely's Ford, on the Rapidan. The first con- 
dition of success was, to get so far beyond the enemy's 
lines before discovery as to render i:)ursuit impossible, 
and so give time to cai'ry out the details of the plan ; for 
with a large body of cavalry at his heels, it would be at 
best only a wild gallop across the country, without any 
beneficial result. 

This ford was well guarded, and an alarm given here 
would be fatal. He, therefore, sent a daring scout, named 
Hogan, with fifty resolute men, to capture, if possible, 
the picket-guard, composed of a captain, lieutenant, and 
twenty-two men. These, scattering in different directions, 
and crossing singly or in small groups, succeeded in reach- 
ing a certain point, where they united and silently advanc- 
ing, captured the whole party. While this was being 
done, the column stood halted in the darkness on the 
other side, the men ignorant of the cause of the delay, 
until the form of Hogan, stealthily advancing through 
the gloom with his trusty companions, gave the low an 
nouncement — " General, the rebel picket is all right." 

The column was at once put in motion, and rapidly 
crossing the river, struck off toward Spottsylvania Court- 
House, where it arrived at daylight, twenty miles in rear 
of the rebel army, without having given the alarm. This 
promised well. Elated ^vdth his success, Kilpatrick now 



330 MAJOR-GENERAL HoGH JUDSON klLPATRIGK. 

pushed rapidly forward toward Beaver Dam Station, oe 
the Virginia Central railroad, reaching it at four o'clock 
in the afternoon, where he went into camp for a few hours. 
C/olonels Dahlgren and Cook, with live hundred men, had 
been sent across the James River, to move down its south 
bank near to Bell Isle, and release the prisoners there, 
and with them move into the city, and join Kilpa- 
trick, who w^as to enter the capital at the same time by 
the Brook road. Kilpatrick performed his part of the 
programme, and at nine o'clock had carried the enemy's 
first line of works on the Brook turnpike, less than two 
miles from the city, and opened on it with his artillery. 
This was the signal agreed upon between him and Dahl- 
gren, and as the heavy echoes died away, he listened to 
hear the answering roar of the latters guns, saying that 
all was right. But no echo came back. What was to be 
done, therefore, must be done by liimself alone, and that 
quickly. It was soon very evident that he had under- 
estimated the strength of the rebel works, and for hours 
he reconnoitred in vain to find a weak place where he 
could dash in. In the meantime, the capital was thrown 
into a state of the Avildest alarm ; couriers were sent off 
hither and thither, the bells rung, and the citizens hurried 
to the entrenchments. The rebel infantry on the Chicka- 
hominy were hastened up, and Kilpatrick saw with 
deep sorrow, that the project on which he had set his 
heart must l)e abandoned, arid he reluctantly gave the 
order to retreat. Falling back, he swept round to the 
Chickahommy, and crossing it at Meadow Bridge, went 
into camp in tlie midst of a driving storm of sleet, and 
liail, and snow, which drenched and chilled to the bones 
the exhausted, disappointed soldiers. That night, how- 
ever, some of his scouts coming in, and reporting that 



DEATH OF DAHLGREN. 331 

they had actually traversed the rebel capital, and that the 
troops had nearly all been hurried off up the James, and 
toward the Brook turnpike, leaving only a small pickei 
on the Mechanicsville road, he determined to make oiie 
more effort to reach the rebel prisons. A thousand men 
were therefore selected and divided into detachments, 
with orders to charge into the city by this road, over- 
power the small force about the prisons, and then dash 
back and join the main body again. But before this 
plan could be. carried out, the thunder of artillery close 
at hand announced that his camp was attacked. Hamp- 
ton had come down uj)on him with a heavy force, and 
now for hours a fierce, irregular fight followed. At 
length the enemy was repulsed, when Kilpatrick moved 
off to Old Church, and went into camp, to wait the return 
of his scattered detachments. He remained here during- the 
entire day till all came in, except Dahlgren. At length, 
hearing that the latter had crossed the Pamunkey, and 
was making his way toward Gloucester Point, he leisurely 
moved down the peninsula towards Yorktown, which he 
safely reached, after having been on the march for five 
days. Dahlgren, misled by a negro guide, whom he 
slew, did not reach the appointed place in time. In the 
darkness of the night he came within hearing of the 
battle, raging around Kilpatrick's camp, but by some 
fatality, he, with a hundred men, became separated 
from his main body, and was compelled to fight his 
way till he got within three miles of King and Queen 
Couit-House. Here, ambuscaded by citizens and soldiers, 
he was shot down, and all but seventeen of his party 
killed or taken prisoners. His body was buried in the 
middle of the road by the rebels, to show their savage 
hate, and otherwise treated with brutal malignity. 



3'32 MAJOR-GENERAL HUGH JUDSON KILPATRICK. 

Kilpatrick now performed some minor raids ; b«^t hia 
daring career on the soil of Virginia had come to a close 
His name, for two years, had spread terror throughou' 
the State ; for, like Marion and his troopers of old, in 
South Carolina, he and his bold riders came to be looked 
upon as ubiquitous. 

His boldness and success, as a cavalry leader, pointed 
him out as one eminently fitted to command on a wider 
field, and he was sent West to co-operate with Sherman, in 
his great campaign against Atlanta. When the army com- 
menced its onward march, he led the advance, but in the 
broken country through which it fought its way, the 
cavalry could do but little, except clear the roads in 
front, keep up communications between the different 
columns, and protect the flanks. At .Resaca, however, 
an opportunity was given him to strike one of his heavy 
blows. On that day, as he dashed forward, he passed 
Logan, and to his enquiry, " Where are you going, 
general ? " replied, " No skirmishing to-day ; but sabre 
charges alone shall be made." He had been directed 
to drive the enemy from the cross-roads, a mile and 
a half from Resaca, and as he approached the spot he 
ordered Colonel Smith to charge with one of his brigades. 
The bugles rang out, and the column fell furiously on the 
enemy ; but unable to pierce the lines, recoiled from the 
shock and fell back. The rebel infantry, elated with vic- 
tory, pressed after with loud shouts. Kilpatrick just then 
riding forward, saw with astonishment the retreating 
brigade, and fired at the sight, ordered up a fresh one, 
and rallying the disordered troops, ordered the charge to 
be sounded. Riding at their head, he fell like a falling rock 
on the exult/ant enemy, and hurled him fiercely back be- 
yond the important point, and held it. But he fell in the 



DESPERATELY WOUNDED. P>33 

moment of victory, desperate!}- wounded. A rifle ball 
had entered the groin, and almost miraculously escaping 
a vital point, passed out of the hip. Reeling from l.'is 
saddle, he was borne bleeding, fainting to the rear. It 
was plain that if he recovered, he would not be able 
again to enter the field for some time, and therefore as 
soon as he was strong enough to be moved, he returned 
to his home on the Hudson, to recruit.* 

Before he was fit again to take the saddle, he ascer- 
tained by the papers that Sherman w^as in ft'ont of At- 
lanta, and that the place must fall in a few days. De- 
termined not to lose the glory of partaking in the final 
movements for its overthrow, he took the next train, and 
rode night and day till he reached his command at 
Cartersville. Still unable to sit on his horse he rode for- 
ward in a carriage fitted up for him by his command, and 
joined Sherman before Atlanta. The cavalry was much 
needed in breaking up the railroads that supplied the city, 
and at once entered on this service. Soon all were cut 
except the one leading to Macon. To destroy it, there- 
fore, was now the chief object of Sherman, and the task 
was assigned to Kilpatrick. With two divisions of caval- 
ry and eight pieces of artillery he set out just at night 
trom his camp, and sweeping round to the west of Atlanta, 
fighting his way forward, reached the Macon railroad in 
the afternoon the next day, and began to tear up the 
track. The enemy, alarmed at his audacious movement, 
sent out a heavy force of infantry and cavalry, which 
came upon him just before midnight, engaged in the work 
of destruction. The lieavens were lurid with the con- 
flagration, and the w^ork was going bravely on, when the 
thunder of artillery compelled him to leave his task but 
half accomplislied. Repulsing the enemy, he made a wide 



334 MAJOR-GENERAL HUGH JUDSON KILPATRICK. 

circuit, and struck the railroad further down at Love- 
joy's Station. But, made aAvare of his movements, the 
rebel force, by keeping straight down the road, was able 
to reach the threatened point before him. Foiled here, he 
began to cast about to see what his next movement should 
be, when he discovered that the way by which he had come 
was blocked up, while various forces were rapidly ac- 
cumulating on all sides of him to secure his capture. 
Finding he had got to cut his way out, he formed his 
command into six columns, and sounding the charge 
made straight for the rebel barricades in his front. Pour- 
ing like a torrent over these, he cut down the astonished 
enemy without mercy, and drove them in disorderly flight 
on every side. With four guns, a large number of prison- 
ers, and three battle-llags as trophies of the fight, he How 
moved on to the east of Atlanta, and finally reached the 
lines at Decatur, having made the entire circuit of the 
city and Hood's army. 

His success, however, was onl}' partial, and Sherman 
seeing that to break this conniiunication permanently, he 
must transfer his army to it, now began that great move- 
ment that gave us Atlanta. In carrying it out Kilpatrick 
operated in front and on the flank of Howard's Army of 
the Tennessee. 

Before entering on his grand expedition across the 
State of Georgia, Sherman had a review of Kilpatrick's 
cavalry, on which he knew he would have to lean so 
heavily for the protection of his flanks in his long march. 
Kilpatrick, informed of the General's plans, now called in 
his detachments, exchanged poor horses for good ones, 
and put everything in as complete preparation as possible 
for the arduous work before him. When all were as- 
sembled and mounted, he found he had five thousand 



ACCOMPANIES HOWARD. 335 

five hundred men, with six pieceb of artillery. These he di- 
vided into two brigades of two thousand hve hundred men 
each, the first under -Colonel Murray, and the second 
under Colonel Atkins. Before starting, he invited the 
officers to his headquarters to a social entertainment, when 
he addressed them in his gloAving style, and animated all 
with a spirit of emulation. 

Ill the march, Kilpatrick accompanied the right wing 
of the army, under Howard, which moved down the 
Macon road, called the Georgia Central, in two columns. 
He had hardly left Atlanta before he came upon the 
pickets of the enemy, who had been hanging around the 
place. Scattering these from his path, he drove them 
through Eastport and Jonesboro, and pressing on, came 
upon the enemy two or three, thousand strong at Love- 
joy's, occupying the old rebel works there. Without 
waiting to reconnoitre and turn the position he charged the 
barricades, driving the enemy pell-mell from them, killing 
fifty and capturing two guns which the rebels had taken 
from Stoneman. From thence he moved down the road, 
the infantry following leisurely, until he came on Wheel- 
er s cavalry, at Bear Creek, ten miles from Griffin, 
Driving them back to Barnesville, he attacked them again, 
compelling them to take refuge in Macon. 

Howard now approached the Ocmulgee, and it was 
necessary that his movements should be covered, while he 
effected a crossing. To do this, Kilpatrick took his cavalry 
over, and marched to Griswoldsville, ten miles east of 
Macon, when he wheeled about and moved boldly 
back on the place. There was a large army here, and the 
object of Kilpatrick was to keep it thert to defend the 
town, till Howard could get beyond it on his march toward 
Milledgeville. By his bold and skilful movements he 



336 MAJOR-GENERAL HUGH JUDSON KILPATRICK. 

succeeded admirably, for in a succession of rapid advances 
he drove in the rebel outlying picket posts and forced the 
enemy back to East Macon, two miles from the city. Not 
satisfied with this, a brigade charged the rebel line, and 
one regiment, the Tenth Ohio, dashing across an interven- 
ing creek burst with wild clamor up the hill beyond, on 
Nvhich the earthworks were, and drove the artillerymen 
and infantry from their posts. This bold movement con- 
lirmed the rebel commanders in their opinion, that Macon 
was to be attacked, and the army was kept busy on the 
foitifications, and in a constant state of alarm by the 
sound of Kilpatrick's bugles. Howard, in the meantime, 
quietly slipped by and was miles away before the rebels 
woke up to the clever trick that had been played upon 
them. 

While a part of the cavalry was thus keeping the 
rebel army in Macon in constant fear of an attack, 
another portion destroyed depots, a foundry, chemical 
works, and other public buildings at Griswoldsville, and 
then working eastward, tore up the railroad as they ad- 
vanced. 

After the short rest at Milledgeville, the army moved 
on, and now began the real hard work of the cavalry 
during the campaign. Its chief business thus far had 
been to destroy, but Wheeler's cavalry had become so 
formidable in numbers that, from this time on, it re- 
quired all Kilpatrick's attention. The Savannah railroad 
runs north from Millen to Augusta, about midway be- 
tween which is Waynesboro. While the army was mov- 
ing in a somewhat southeasterly direction toward this 
place, Kilpatrick was sent forward on the road to Waynes- 
boro, which was the proper route to Augusta, in order to 
confirm the impression of the rebel commanders that it 



DEFEAT OF WHEELER. 337 

was the point aimed at by Sherman. A large army was 
here also, and it was important it should remain in its 
position, till it was effectually cut off from Savannah. 
At Sandersville, Wheeler made a stand, but after some 
sharp skirmishing, fell back' toward Waynesboro. Almost 
every day now there was severe fighting. On the 29th, 
Wheeler suddenly assumed the offensive, and made a 
furious attapk on Kilpatrick. The latter had thrown up 
barricades, and, a part of his force using the Spencer rifles, 
received his adversary with a murderous fire, and stub- 
bornly held him at bay, killing and wounding two or 
three hundred men, with a small loss to himself. Falling 
back to Louisville, on the Fourteenth Corps, he rested 
for one daj-, and on the next, again moved off toward 
Waynesboro. Reaching the railroad a few miles south of 
it, at Thomas' Station, he broke it up. The next day he 
moved against Wheeler, and attacking him with fury be- 
hind his barricades, forced him to flight. For two days, 
the 3d and 4th, he fought him with such determination, 
that the rebel chieftain gave up all hope of arresting our 
progress. Having accomplished his object, viz., to keep 
the rebel army shut up in Augusta, Kilpatrick gathered 
up his dead and wounded, numbering about sixty, and 
wheeling south, now joined Sherman at Millen. From 
this point, on to Savannah, seventy-five miles distant, the 
cavalry, divided into two portions, marched in front and 
rear of the army. Hitherto it had seemed to the aston- 
ished ill habitants to be everywhere, and burning cotton, 
blazing depots, foundries, mills, and workshops, and 
smoking railroads in all directions, had so completely con- 
liised and bewildered the rebel leaders, that they did not 
know where to concentrate their forces. While watching 
for Kilpatrick in one place, he struck them in another ; 



338 MAJOR-GENERAL HUGH JUDSON KILPATRICK, 

all the time stretching such an impenetrable curtain along 
the flanks of the main army, that its movements were 
shrouded in complete myster)-. Detachments sent off in 
all directions had threatened every possible point almost 
at the same time, and for nearly five hundred miles his 
bold troopers had ridden without let or hindrance over 
the astonished country. Their bugle blasts by night and 
day had roused up the solitar}' planter, the quiet rural 
village, and the busy town alike, till his gay and reckless 
squadrons seemed in the eyes of the inhabitants to fill all 
the State. 

But from Millen to Savannah they marched in mass, 
and kept step to the leisurely movements of the army. 
Through the broad pine barrens, in front and rear, their 
bugles awoke the still echoes, and cheered the long march, 
mitil the spires of Savannah rose to view, and its work 
was accomplished. 

In summing up his operations, Kilpatrick said that 
the enemy's cavalry had not been able even once to reach 
the trains in the rear or flank of either infantry column. 
"We have," said he, "three times crossed from left to 
right in front of our army, and have marched upwards 
of five hundred and forty-one miles since the 15th day of 
November, and have destroyed fourteen hundred bales of 
cotton, two hundred and seventy-one cotton gins, and 
much other valuable property ; captured two 3-inch rifled 
guns, eight hundred and sixty-three stands of small arms, 
and killed and wounded and disabled not less than fifteen 
hundred of the enem}^," while his own loss was but three 
liundred and sixty-five. Sherman, in a letter to him, 
dated in front of Savannah, complimented him highly, 
saying, among other things, " But the fact that to you, in 
a great measure, we owe the march of four strong infan- 



AUGUSTA THREATENED. 339 

try columns, with heavy teams and wagons, over three 
hundred miles through an enemy's country, without the 
loss of a single wagon, and without the annoyance of 
cavalry dashes on our flanks, is honor enough for any 
cavalry commander." 

While at Savannah he received the appointment ol 
Major-General. 

When Sherman, in the middle of winter, marched out 
of Savannah to traverse the two Carolinas, he was sent 
off on his old mission of making feints and distracting 
and dividing the rebel forces. Slocum, as we have seen, 
marched up the Savannah, and crossed at Sisters' Ferry. 
Kilpatrick crossed behind him, and at once marched for 
the Charleston and Augusta Raih^oad, striking it at Black- 
ville, and driving his old enemy, Wheeler, over tlie 
Edisto. He then took the track, and moved off toward 
Augusta, destroying it as he advanced. The enemy was 
not certain whether Sherman intended to attack Augusta 
first, or move directly north toward Columbia ; but sus- 
})ecting lie would take the latter course, had all the 
bridges and crossin.gs of the Edisto well guarded But 
Kilpatrick\s steady approach toward Augusta alarmed 
Wheeler, and when the former had got well up toward 
the place he abandoned the Edisto, and by marching 
night and day reached Aiken, a few miles out of the city, 
first, and supported by an infantry force under Cheatham, 
disputed his further progress. Kilpatrick at once com- 
menced skirmishing with him, and kept it up for two 
days. All this time Sherman's columns were pouring 
across the Edisto, and heading straight for Columbia. 
Kilpatrick having accom})lished the object he sought, 
suddenly broke up camp, and moving SAviftly north, 
threw himself between the enem} and Columbia, so 

22 



340 MAJOR-GENERAL HUGH JUDSON KILPATRICK. 

that the latter could not reach it except by a wide circuit 
westward. 

WheiJ Sherman reached Columbia, the enemy remain 
ed just as much in the dark respecting the point he would 
next strike as they were Avhen he left Savannah ; not know- 
ing whether he would move east to effect a junction with the 
columns marching up from Newberii and Wilmington, or 
keep on north toward Charlotte. To delude the rebel leader 
into the belief that he was aiming at the latter place, Kil- 
patrick was sent off toward it, and manoeuvred so that 
it was thought the array was advancing in that direction. 
For a whole day, he marched parallel to and within three 
miles of Cheatham's infantry, moving in the same direc- 
tion. Meanwhile, Sherman was pushing his columns 
toward Fayetteville. The result was, Beauregard kept 
his army massed at Charlotteville, till our array had 
safely crossed the Pedee. 

It is impossible to describe without an accompanying 
map on a large scale, the various movements of the cav- 
alry, while thus operating on the left flank of Sherman's 
army. 

About this time Kilpatrick was informed that our sol- 
diers were killed by the rebels after they had surrendered : 
"In one case (he says), a lieutenant and seven men : in ano- 
ther, nine cavalrymen were found murdered ; five in a barn- 
yard, three in a field, and one in the road; two with their 
throats cut from ear to ear.'' He at once wrote to 
Wheeler, closing his letter in the following language: 
"Unless some satisfactory explanation be made to me 
before sundown, February 23d, I will cause eighteen of 
your soldiers, now my prisoners, to be shot at that hour; 
and if this cowardly act be repeated, if my men when 
taken are not treated in all cases as prisoners of Avar 



RETALIATION. 341 

should be, I will not only retaliate as I have already men- 
tioned, but there shall not be left a house standing within 
reach of my scouting parties along my line of march ; nor 
will I be answerable for the conduct of my soldiers, who 
will not only be allowed, but encouraged to take a fear- 
ful revenge. I know of no other way to intimidate 
cowards." To this Wheeler replied, that he " was shock- 
ed at his statements," and declared that it must be a mis- 
take, and promised to "have the matter investigated." 
Kilpatrick, on this representation, said he would "take 
no action for the present." The rebels, however, were 
taught that a course of brutality was a hazardous game 
to play at, and certain to be a losing one to them. 

Hampton, who had joined Wheeler, and who was 
soon placed in command of all the rebel cavalry operating 
against our army, now tried hard to reach Fayetteville, 
whither Hardee was marching in his retreat from Char- 
leston. Kilpatrick at once determined, if possible, to cut 
off the former. Finding that he was moving on two par- 
allel roads, he posted upon each, a brigade of cavalry ; but 
hearing there was still another road farther north, along 
which a part might pass, he took three regiments, 400 
dismounted men, and a section of artillery, and by a 
rapid night-march reached it, and took post in advance, 
where it intersected the Morgantown road, farther south. 
Here he came very near ending his career. Hampton, 
made aware of his movements, broke away from the main 
column of Kilpatrick farther south, and by a rapid, forced 
march, came upon the camp of the latter just before day- 
liarht. The blast of his buojles was the first announce- 
ment of his presence, and while the charge was still peal- 
ing, he burst with three divisions into the panic-stricken 
camp, and swept it in one wild rush. It was a sudden 



342 MAJOR-GENERAL HUGH JUDSON KILPATRICK. 

whirlwind, for in one minute after the first bugle-blast 
and shout, the whole command was flying terror-stricken 
through the gloom. Kilpatrick's headquarters were 
swept in a twinkling, his aids captured, his artillerj^ 
taken, and he himself compelled to flee on foot for his 
life. Dashing in amid his cavalrymen, whose camp was 
in the rear of that of the infantry, he found them fighting 
for their horses, but leader and all were again borne 
away in the maddened torrent, and driven into an im- 
penetrable swamp. This was a miserable plight for the 
foremost cavalry officer of the da}^, and a major-general 
to boot ; his headquarters and camp all gone, and he 
himself with his scattered followers floundering amid 
darkness in a swamp that could not be crossed. To all 
human appearance, Kilpatrick's ride through the Caro- 
linas had come to an ignoble end. But one of his strik- 
ing peculiarities is that he never admits any condition 
to be so desperate that it cannot be remedied, and, like 
General Taylor, he never knows when he is beaten. 
Casting about him, he resolved, with his mere handful 
of men, to retake his camp, and give the enemy battle. 
Peering out from his hiding place, he found the victors 
were wholly taken up with plundering his camp, and, 
rallying his men, he charged first on the cavalrj' camp. 
The rebels, who expected to see no more of the enemy, 
were taken by surprise, and driven back on the other 
portion of their force. Taking advantage of this sudden 
success, and enraged at the sight of the rebels plundering 
his headquarters and harnessing up his battery horses, 
in order to carry oif his. artillery, he ordered the charge 
to sound, and, himself leading, fell so furiously on them 
that they recoiled in astonishment. Seizing the guns al- 
ready loaded, be \vheeled them quick as thought on the 



DEFEAT AND VICTORY. 343 

dense mass around his headquarters, now looming through 
the darkness, within close pistol-shot. A sudden blaze, 
a roar, and that mass was rent as by a thunderbolt 
Dismay and confusion seized on the disorganized, halt- 
dismounted crowTl. Kilpatrick gave them no time to 
rally, but pouring in the grape, and charging like fire on 
their half-completed formations, he, with his little band, 
forced them back, and though they outnumbered him 
three to one, finally turned them in flight, leaving the 
ground heaped with over a hundred slain. The prisoners 
and artillery were recaptured, and the men overwhelmed 
and vanquished a moment before, now stood up in the 
early daylight, and shouted victory. So unexpected was 
the onset, so swift the overthrow, so sudden and complete 
the victory, that it all seemed more like a passing vision 
than a reality. But the dead and wounded, strewing 
the red and trampled earth like autumn leaves, with 
gaping sabre-wounds and forms rent into shreds by the 
artillery, made a real, though sickening, sight in the light 
of that wintry morning. Kilpatrick, as he rested from 
that morning's hard work, felt a glow of triumph greater 
than if he had won a pitched battle, for he had snatched 
victory out of the very jaws of destruction ; and from the 
abyss of despair, vaulted with a single bound to the sum- 
mit of exultation. It was a narrow escape, and a most 
wonderful success. Not one commander in a thousand 
would have done w^hat he did. 

Kilpatrick now moved to Fayetteville, where he 
rested his command for a few days, and then crossing the 
river, moved off toward Raleigh, in advance of two di- 
visions of infantry. When within six miles of Averys- 
boro', he met a heavy force of rebel infantry, moving 
down the road in line of l)attle. Quickly dismounting a 



344 MAJOR-GENERAL HUGH JUDSON KILPATMCK. 

part of his force to keep the enemy in check, he took a 
hasty survey of the ground around him. Near him was 
a broad, deep ravine, with one extremity running into a 
river, and the other into a swamp. His officers urged 
him to fall back behind this strong position ; but he saw 
wdth his quick intuition, that this was unquestionably the 
very point the rebel force was marching for — -once 
firmly posted here, it could keep an advancing army at 
bay for a long time. " No," said he, " General Sherman 
must pass this way to-morrow ; if the enemy secure this 
ravine, it will take the whole army to dislodge him. 
This must be prevented if possible, and we will fight 
1 ight here ; we may get the worst of it ; but the enemy 
shall not hold this ravine if the cavalry can prevent it.""* 
Hurrying off swift riders to Slocum, six miles in the 
rear, he dismounted his men, and throwing up a hast}- 
breastwork of rails, brush and trees, coolly awaited the 
onset. The rebels opened with artillery, and Kilpatrick re- 
plied, and by his splendid firing, and skilful management, 
held the enemy in check till darkness put an end to the 
conflict. In the meantime, Slocum, urged by his dis- 
patches, sent forward a brigade, A\'hich making a forced 
march over the muddy roads and swampy fields, arrived 
before morning. Thus reinforced, Kilpatrick moved out 
of his extemporized works at daylight, and advanced 
upon the enemy. A severe fight followed, in which the 
rebels were driven out of their first line of works, with 
the loss of three pieces of artillery. In the meantime, 
Slocum himself came up and took command, and the 
enemy was repulsed. 

This was the last battle of the campaign in which 

* See Life of Kilpatrick. 



HIS CHARACTER. 345 

Kilpatrick's cavalry took an active part, and here he rested 
on his laurels. He issued an address to his troops, closing 
with the following words : " Soldiers, be proud ! Of all 
the brave men of this great army you have a right to be. 
You have won the admiration of our infantry, fighting 
on foot and mounted, and you will receive the outspoken 
words of praise* from the great Sherman himself He 
appreciates and will reward your patient endurance of 
hardships, gallant deeds, and valuable services. With 
the old laurels of Georgia entmne those won in the Caro- 
linas, and proudly wear them. General Sherman is 
satisfied with his cavalry.'''' 

After the war he for a time commanded a division 
of cavalry in Mississippi. He resigned his commission 
as Major-General of Volunteers in 1866, and the next 
year his commission in the regular army. In the mean- 
time, 1866, he had been appointed minister to Chili by 
President Johnson. He was recalled by Grant,in 1868, 
took up his residence in New Jersey on a farm, between 
which and lecturing and politics he devoted his time 
until the election of Garfield, when he was agaia sent 
as minister to Chili, where he married, and he died in 
Santiago an Ambassador for his country, 1883. His 
body was brought home and buried at "West Point, the 
home of his mother. 

Though but a youth, Kilpatrick won a world-wide 
reputation. He was in every respect fitted for a cav- 
alry commander, for he had all the dash necessary to 
success, and that. chivalrous daring which wins the admi- 
ration and love of the common soldier. Possessed of a 
fertility of resource seldom found, he was equal to every 
emergency, and saw the way to success where other men 
would perceive only certain ruin. A bold, fearless rider, 



346 MAJOR-GENERAL HUGH JUDSON KILPATRIOK. 

he never asked his men to go where he dare not lead. 
Nervous and excitable, he had the power of electrifying 
his troops with thrilling appeals, and in the "high places 
of the field," and in the perilous onset, he flamed at the 
head of his column like a being from another sphere. A 
rigid disciplinarian, he yet knew when to slacken the 
reins, while his tender care of his soldiers bound them 
to him by love instead of fear. To see him sometimes 
amid his cavalrymen, one would think from the freedom 
of manner and language he allowed, that he would have 
no control over them. But just let them hear once the 
rallying call of his bugle, and that impression would 
vanish in a twinkling. When the hour for duty came 
each man leaped to his place, knowing that hesitation 
or delay would meet with swift punishment. He had a 
rare combination of qualities, for while bold and dar- 
ing even to ajjparent rashness, he was nevertheless 
pruden4 and sagacious, and whfn seemingly acting 
from mere excitement or impiiise, was nevertheless gov- 
erned by the most careful calculations and true fore- 
thought. 

Small in stature, with light complexion and eyes, he 
had nothing imposing either in his appearance or cos- 
tume. Like the first Napoleon, who had the sense to per- 
ceive that splendor of attire would not become him, Kil- 
patrick never affected the showy commander. When on 
a raid or campaign, as far as appeaiances went, he might 
have passed for a corporal or sergeant. He believed in 
deeds, not words — power, not pomp. ■ Of great business 
tact and ability himself, he surrounded himself with 
working men. He left to fancy generals the business of 
seeking to have their deeds emblazoned by correspond- 
ents, and wrote his own record with his sword. 



CHAPTER XV. 

MAJOR-GENERAL GEORGE G. MEAPE. 

mS CAREEK FURNISHING BUT FEW STRIKING POINTS TO A BIOGRAPHEK— 
HIS BIRTH — GRADUATES AT WEST POINT — SERVES IN THE MEXICAN WAR — 
PROMOTED FOR GALLANT CONDUCT IN THE BATTLE OP MONTEKYY — MADE 
BRIGADIER OP VOI;UNTEERS SOON AFTER THE BREAKING OUT OF THE 
WAR — COMMANDS A FORAGING EXPEDITION NEAR DRAINSVILLE — HIS 
CAREER ON THE PENINSULA — IS DESPERATELY WOUNDED IN I ilE BATTLE 
OF GLENDALE — SERVES UNDER HOOKER AT SOUTH MOUNTAIN AND ANTIE- 
TAM — HIS BRILLIANT CHARGE AT THE LATTER PLACE — AF'PER HOOKER 
IS WOUNDED ASSUMES COiUIAND OF THE CORPS — AT CHANCELLORSVILLE — 
APPOINTED TO THE COMMAND OP THE ARMY OP THE POTOMAC — HIS 
MODEL ORDER — -PURSUIT OP LEE — BATTLE OP GETTYSBURG HEAD- 
QUARTERS UNDER FIRE — THE VICTORY— THE PURSUIT — STRANGE INAC 
TION IN FRONT OF LEE — CROSSES THE POTOMAC — OUTMARCHED BY LEE 
— COMPELLED TO RETREAT TO BULL RUN — ADVANCES TO THE RAPPA- 
HANNOCK — VARIOUS DETACHED CONFLICTS — WINTER QUARTERS — GRANT 
PLACES HIMSELF AT THE HEAD OF THE ARMY OF THE POTOMAC — GRANT 
AND MEADE TOGETHER — CHARACTER OP THE LATTER. 

It is seldom that a man occupies, while momentous 
events are transpiring, so eminent a position as General 
Meade has done, about whose personal conduct as a mili- 
tary man so little can be said. Not belonging to the dash- 
ing school of generals, he, at the outset, was distinguished 
only for always doing his duty and doing it to the entire 
satisfaction of those under whom he served. As com- 
mander 0+' the Army of the Potomac, he won a world- 



348 MAJOR-GENERAL GEORGE G. MEADE. 

wide fame by his defeat of Lee at Gettysburg, but since 
that time, though nominally still its head, the pres- 
ence and superior rank of Gen. Grant entirely over- 
shadowed his actions, so that it is impossible to give him 
his fair proportion of merit. Where to draw the line 
between the two, during the eventful year that elapsed 
between the crossing of the Kapidan and the surrender of 
Lee's army, it is impossible to determine. The relations 
of the two to the Grand Army ca" not be clearly defined, 
and as all the great movements must be primarily referred 
to Grant, to speak of them a second time in reference to 
Meade, would be a mere repetition. Hence, though he 
occupied so high a position, it is difficult to give him a 
separate place in any one of the movements made. 

His parents, though Americans, were in Spain when 
he was born, in the year 1816. He entered West Point 
from the District of Columbia, and graduated in 1839, 
receiving the appointment of second lieutenant in the Third 
Artillery. After some time he resigned his commission, 
and was appomted in May, 1842, second lieutenant in the 
Topographical Engineers. At the breaking out of the 
Mexican war, he was ordered to the army of General 
Taylor, and for his gallantry at Monterey received the 
brevet of first lieutenant. In August, 1851, he was made 
full lieutenant, and five years after, captain. 

The next month after the battle of Bull Run, he was 
promoted to brigadier-general of volunteers, and com- 
manded a brigade in McCalfs division of Pennsylvania 
volunteers, that was so long stationed up the Potomac, 
near Drainsville. While here he commanded a success- 
ful foraging expedition in the vicinity of the place. 

On the Peninsula, we find him fighting bravely at 
Gaines' Mill, and in the fearful battle of Glen dale, in the 



A GALLANT CHARGE. 349 

White Oak Swamp, he was borne, desperately wounded, 
from the field. ^ 

On his recovery, he again joined the army, and in 
McClellan's celebrated campaign against Lee in Maryland, 
commanded a division in Hooker's corps. In the battle 
of South Mountain, McClellan speaks of him as " gal- 
lantly driving the enemy on the right.'' At Antietam, 
Meade held the centre, and made that terrific charge 
early in the day, w^hich at first drove the rebels. The war 
correspondent of the Tribune thus describes it : " The 
half hour passed and the rebels began to give way a little, 
and only a little ; but at the first indication of a receding 
fire, ' forward,' was the word, and on went the line with 
a cheer and a rush. Back across the corn-field, leaving 
dead and wounded behind them, over the fence and across 
the road and then back again into the dark wood, which 
closed around them, went the retreating rebels. Meade 
and his Pennsylvanians followed hard and fast — followed 
till they came within easy range of the woods, among 
which they saw their beaten enemy disappearing — follow- 
ed still with another cheer, and flung themselves against 
the cover. 

" But out of these gloomy woods came suddenly and 
heavily, terrible volleys, volleys which smote and bent and 
broke in a moment that eager front, and hurled them swiftly 
back for half the distance they had won. Not swiftly nor 
in panic any further. Closing up their shattered lines, 
they came slowly away, a regiment where a brigade 
had been ; hardly a brigade where a whole division had 
been, victorious. They had met at the woods the first 
volleys of musketry from fresh troops — had met and re- 
turned them till their line had yielded, and gone down 
before the weight of fire, and till their ammunition ^vas 



350 MAJOR-GENERAL GEORGE R. MEADE. 

exhausted." Meade ])ehaved with great gallantry in this 
crisis, and rode among his shaking ranks, steadying them 
by jis presence and words, sho^\'ing that he was worthy 
to command that immortal body of troops, the Pennsyl- 
vania Reserves. When Hooker was wounded, he, being 
the senior in rank, took command of the corps. 

After the battle, in reporting the heavy loss in tlie 
corps, he said, "I am satisfied the great reduction in the 
corps since the recent engagement, is not due solely to the 
casualties of battle, and that a considerable number of 
men are still in the rear, some having dropped out on the 
march, and many dispersing and leaving yesterday dur- 
ing the light. I think the efficiency of the corps, so far 
as it goes, good," &c. 

He was Hooker s right-hand man, in the disastrous 
battle of Chancellorsville, and after the removal of the 
former from the head of the army, was put in his place. 
His appointment at the time took the country by surprise, 
as but little had been heard of him. His merits, how- 
ever, were well known to the Department, but his selection 
was probably owing to his being next in rank to Hooker, 
in the command of the corps. 

It was a trying position, under the circumstances, to 
place him in. The army was on the march, seeking a 
battle-field on which to settle the fate of Washington and 
Maryland, and probably of Philadel})liia. Still, no one 
probably in that arm\ so well understood its prganization 
at that time as he, from his position, necessarily did. 

His order on assuming, without a monient"'s warning, 
this responsible position, is a model one. He says: 

" By direction of the President of the I'nited States, I hereby assume 
command of the Army of the Potomac. As a soldier in obeying this 
order, an order totally unexpected and unsolicited, I have no promises or 



A MODEL ORDER. 351 

pledge to make. The country looks to tliis army to relieve it from the devas- 
tation and disgrace of a hostile invasion. Whatever fatigues and sacrifices 
we may be called upon to undergo, let us have in view constantly the magni- 
tude of the interests involved, and let each man determine to do his duty, 
leaving to an all-controlling Providence the decision of the contest. It is 
with just diffidence that I relieve in command of this array an eminent 
and accomplished soldier, whose name must ever be conspicuous in the 
history of its achievements ; but I rely upon the hearty support of my 
companions in arms, to assist me in the discharge of the duties of the 
Important trust which has been confided to me. 

"GEOEGE G. MEADE, 
" Major-General Commanding." 

He issued also the following circular to the army: 
" The Commanding General requests that previous to the 
engagement soon expected with the enemy, corps and all 
other commanding officers address their troops, and ex- 
plain to them the immense issues involved in the strug- 
gle. The enemy is now on our soil. The whole country 
looks anxiously to this army to deliver it from the pre- 
sence of the foe. Our failure to do so will leave us no 
such welcome as the swelling of millions of hearts with 
pride and joy at our success would give to every soldier 
of the armv Homes, firesides and domestic altars are in- 
volved. The army has fought well heretofore. It is 
believed that it will fight more bravely than ever if it is 
addressed in fitting terms. Corps and other commanders 
are authorized to order the instant death of any soldier 
who fails to do his duty at this hour." 

Instead of following up the enemy directly in his 
rear, he marched parallel with him — the Cumberland 
Mountains separating the two armies. Hearing that Lee 
was debouching through the mountains near Gettysburg, 
he ordered General Reynolds, in advance, to occupy the 
place. The latter met the enemy here, and in the con- 
flict that followed, fell mortally wounded, while our for^^es 



352 MAJOR-GENERAL GEORGE G. MEADE. 

were defeated and driven back through Gettysburg, with 
the loss of some two thousand prisoners. General How- 
ard, who had arrived on the field during the action, and 
assumed command, withdrew the troops to the strong 
position of Cemetery Hill. 

The moment the news of Reynolds' death reached 
Meade, he despatched Hancock to represent him on the 
field. The latter, together with Howard, reporting that 
the position they held was a good one, he resolved to give 
battle there, and immediately hurried off his aids to the 
different corps, with directions to concentrate at Gettys- 
burg with all speed, and to send the trains to the rear. 
Having issued these orders, he mounted his horse and 
pressed forward that night, reaching the field at one 
o'clock next morning. As soon as it was daylight, he 
rode over the ground to inspect it, and fix the location of 
the several corps as fast as they should arrive. One after 
another they reached the field, and were assigned their re- 
spective positions. 

About three o'clock, as he was riding along his ex- 
treme left, he saw that General Sickles was advancing his 
corps a half a mile or more from his selected line of bat- 
tle. Spurring forward till he found him, he began to ex- 
plain the propriety of withdrawing his corps, when the 
rebel batteries opened in front and flank, and down came 
a heavy body of infantry to the charge, and the battle ol" 
Gettysburg commenced. 

BATTLE OF GETTYSBURG. 

Though the troops held their ground manfully, the re- 
sult showed that Meade was right ; for the corps, after a 
fierce fight, in which Sickles fell wounded, was compelled 



GETTYSBURG. 353 

to fall back. The battle raged with terrific violence here 
till night, and after night on the left, where the rebels 
made a lodgment. On the whole, Meade saw that the 
day had gone against him, and looked forward with the 
deepest anxiety to the struggle which the morning was 
sure to usher in. His nervous temperament was strung 
to its utmost tension, but he coolly made his dispositions, 
and awaited the light of the morning, which was to de- 
cide, in all human probability, the fate of the capital. 
The battle commenced early, and deepened every moment, 
till, by nine o'clock, the uproar was terrific. Howard, in 
the centre, after listening: awhile to the tremendous firino 
on the right, turned to one of his aids, and said, "E-ide 
over to General Meade, and tell him the fio-htino; on the 
right seems more terrific than ever, and appears swing- 
ing somewhat toward the centre, but that we know 
little or nothing of how the battle goes ; and ask him 
if he has any orders." Away dashed the aid, and in 
a few minutes galloped back with the short, stern reply, 
" The troops are to stand to arms, sir, and watch the 
frontr 

Headquarters were in a little whitewashed farm-house, 
in the shadow of which lay wearied statf officers and war 
correspondents, Meade received reports here, coming oc- 
casional!}' to the door to make some enquiry of some 
staff officers who were reclining under a tree near by. 
Orderlies and aids were going and coming on a wild gal- 
lop, while outside of a garden fence, stood hitched some 
twenty or thirty horses. Suddenly a shell screamed over 
the house, then another, and another, till a whole battery 
seemed playing on the hitherto quiet little building. A 
Imndred a minute burst and shrieked around it, causing 
the horses to rear in terror, and pull at their fastenings 



354 MAJOR-GENERAL GEORGE G. MEADE. 

Faster and faster fell the shot and shell, horse after horsf 
\\'ent down, his boAvels torn out, or his legs shot off, un 
till sixteen lay dead, still tied to the fence, from which 
the}' had struggled in vain to free themselves. The steps 
and porch of the building were torn away by a shell, 
another burst in the garret, still another pierced the 
chimney, till the air was fall of the missiles of death, 
whose horrid sounds seemed the shrieks of flying demons. 
Either by design or accident, the rebels had got head- 
quartei's under tire, and Meade observing it, appeared at 
the door and told the staff that the enemy plainly had 
our range, and they had better go up the slope fifteen or 
twenty yards, to the stable. 

When the last awful attack, ])receded by the simul- 
taneous roar of nearly two hundred cannon, commenced, 
an expression of the deepest anxiety passed over Meade's 
face, and it was plain that a mountain lay on his heart. 
The minutes were lengthened into hours, while earth for 
the time seemed turned into hell, with all its fires raging 
The heights groaned and trembled under the awful explo- 
sions, the sun grew dark in the sulphurous battle cloud, 
shouts and shrieks mingled in the fearful din, and he knew 
that death ^vas reaping down his brave men with frightful 
rapidity. At length there came a lull, and then a shout ; 
and such a shout, rolling for miles along the wearied, 
bleeding line. The enemy Avas repulsed at last, and the 
(lay won. Meade established his headquarters again near 
Slocum's Hill, and though scattering shells dropped 
around them, he heeded them not. Kiding up, he caller! 
for paper and aids, and sat down to despatch his orders. 
Just then a band came marching over the hill, playing 
"Hail to the Chief." That was a proud night for him. 
He had saved Washingtun, hurled back the invader, and 



AFTER THE BATTLE. 355 

in a few hours made his name to he known the world 
over. 

The next morning broke fresh and fair, the birds once 
more sang in the trees, and all nature smiled peaceful as 
ever. In the distance, occasional shots of skirmishers 
were heard, l)ut all else was quiet, save where the ambu- 
lances, laden with the wounded, made their way to the 
roads and hospitals. Meade sat in a little wall tent, dic- 
tating orders, while the chief quartermaster had his writ- 
ing table in the end of a wagon. i\.ll the rest of the offi- 
cers had slept on the ground, and were now huddling 
around the camp fires in the highest spirits, talking and 
laughing, and munching their fried pork and bread, 
which they held in their hands, and unbounded joy reign- 
ed on every side, save where the thousands lay heaped in 
agony.'*' It was a great victory, and Lee was soon in full 
retreat for the mountains, leaving a whole army of dead 
and wounded behind him. Over twenty-three thousand 
of our own brave men had disappeared in this Waterloo 
to the rebels. 

The cannons that heralded in our great anniversary 
day announced at the same time this great victory, and 
the fall of Vicksburg. These two defeats to the enemy 
East and West, were the turning point in the fate of the 
Southern Confederacy. From that ever memorable Fourth 
of July it never successfully rallied from its downward 
tendency, and not a single victory lighted its diirk path 
way to final death. It put forth superhuman efforts, and 
though blind and staggering from the awful blo^xs dealt 
it, rallied bravely to the fight, yet rallied in vain. 

It was a striking coincidence that the culminating 

* Army conespuudeuce. 
23 



356 MAJOR-GENERAL GEORGE G. MEADE. 

victories, though occurring more than a thousand miles 
apart, should have been on the same day, and that day 
the Fourth of July, and that the two men who won them, 
should afterward come together and move side by side to 
the close of the war. 

Meade found it impossible to follow up the enemy 
directly in his rear, as the latter could hold the mountain 
pass by which he had retired with a small force, while 
the main army was retreating. He, therefore, sent Kil- 
patrick's cavalry after him, and with the army followed 
back in the same way that he had pursued him and by a 
parallel route, with the Cumberland mountains between 
them, hoping to strike Lee while crossing the Potomac. 
The latter, however, got there first, but to his dismay a 
heavy rain-storm had so raised the river, that it swept in 
a fierce torrent above all its former fords, while the only 
pontoon bridge he had across it was destroyed by a de- 
tachment of Meade's army. His fate now seemed sealed, 
for storm succeeded storm, holding him there on the per- 
ilous banks, until ]^'Ieade was able to concentrate his 
entire army in his front. A whole week now passed in 
most strange inaction, during which time Lee built rafts 
and boats, and finally crossed with all his artillery and 
trains. Every one believed that his capture was certain, 
and the news of his successful escape awakened the deepest 
mortification and rage. No satisfactory reason has ever 
been given for thus allowing him to get off unscathed. It 
was said that Lee's position was too strong to force, and 
that a council of war decided that it would be unwise to 
attempt it. All this may be true, but it does not account 
for Lee's getting off with so little damage. There can b 
no sufficient excuse for letting him slip away with all his 
artillery and trains, without dealing him a single heavy 



A BOLD MOVEMENT. 857 

blow. He might not have been destroyed, but he 
should have been seriously crippled. Meade must have 
outnumbered him by the close of that week, nearly two 
to one ; and if the circumstances justified the escape of 
Lee intact, then the pursuit without the expectation of 
being aided by a swollen river, had better not have been 
attempted. 

When Meade found Lee had crossed the river, he 
resumed the pursuit by a flank movement, crossing the 
Potomac at Berlin, and moved down the Loudon Valley, 
hoping at Manassas Gap to intercept and cut off a part of 
the rebel army. But Lee outmarched and outmanoeu- 
vred him completely, and Meade's army at the close of 
July, lay along the Rappahannock boldly confronted by 
the foe. Lee now weakened his diminished force still 
more, by sending off a portion of it to reinforce Bragg in 
Georgia, yet, with the remainder he assumed the offen- 
sive, and so manoeuvred, that he actually turned Meade's 
flank, compelling hhn to fall back to Bull Run. De- 
stroying the Orange and Alexandria railroad, from the 
Rapidan to Manassas, he then retired once more to his 
old position near the Orange Court House. Meade now 
advanced again to the Rappahannock, and all through the 
autumn, there was more or less fighting between portions 
of the armies, but no general engagement took placa 
At Robertson s River, Brandy Station, Bristoe Station, 
Buckland Mills and the Rappahannock Bridge, there were 
sharp conflicts, especially at Bristoe Station, where we 
captured five cannon and four hundred and fifty prisoners. 
At Rappahannock Station and Kelly's Ford, Sedgewick 
and French captured several redoubts, four guns, eight 
l:>attle-flags, and about two thousand prisoners. 

Lee now fell back to his old line behind the Rapidan. 



358 MAJOR-GENERAL GEORGE G. MEADE. 

and the t^vo armies went into winter quarters. The iiexl 
spring, Grant, having been made Lieutenanl^General, 
took the field at the head of the Army of the Potomac, 
thouo-h Meade was still its nominal commander. 

o 

We shall not follow the latter farther in his military 
career, for, as before remarked, it is impossible to dis- 
criminate between his actions and those of Grant. Their 
headquarters were usually close together, and the move- 
ments of the army were the result of their united counsels. 
Hence, a separate narrative of Meade's actions cannot be 
given, unless at some future time he shall choose to fur- 
nish it himself. We suppose, however, that he had much 
to do in the handling of the army m its various brilliant 
movements which showed such signal ability. He seem- 
ed to have chief command after the inauguration of the 
last great movement, and showed himself equal to the 
tremendous responsibilities* throAvn upon him. Grant 
also gave over the direction of the pursuit to him, thus 
showing his entire confidence in his ability. 

As a mark of its appi'eciation of his services, the 
Government, at the close of the war, placed him in com- 
mand of the whole Atlantic Department. 

Notwithstanding General Meade's long service and 
high position, he has never held chief command in but 
one battle. With Grant he saw some of the most severe 
fighting of the war, and doubtless, at times executed in- 
dependent movements of great importance; still they 
always have been and always will be attributed to Grant, 
who was the real head of the army. 

As a division commander he never failed to dis- 
tinguish himself; but the one battle that gave him his 
fame was Gett}^sburg. Still, sharing with Grant the 
dangers and responsibilities of the last year of the war. 



■4iiM^ 




BATTLEFIELD OF GSTT YSBURG-First Da 




'.T.^rTTYsmi'RftN 



BATTLEFIELD OF GETTYSBURG-Third Day. 



HIS CHARACTER. 359 

also the glory of final success, lie will go down to pos- 
terity with liim, their names indissolubly linked to- 
gether, and sharers of a common fame. 

After the war he was appointed to the military 
division of the Atlantic. From August, 1866, till 1868 
he commanded the Department of the East. He was 
subsequently ti-ansferred to the district embracing Geor- 
gia and Alabama. Again transferred to the Atlantic 
division, he I'emained in it till his death, 1872. He 
died from pneumonia, aggravated from a wound re- 
ceived at New Market Cross Roads. He received the 
title of LL.D. from several colleges, and an equestrian 
statue was subsequently erected to him in Fairmount 
Park, Philadelphia. 

Meade's qualities were rather solid than brilliant. 
Cautious and reliable, he probably never would have 
originated those daring, unexpected movements which 
distinguished Grant and Sherman. Still, his military 
qualities were of a high order, and his fame rests on a 
solid basis. 

He was a Catholic by profession, and maintained 
his religious character under all circumstances. Brave 
without being rash, his coolness under fire gave him 
entire possession of his faculties ; and though not cal- 
culated by nature to awaken great enthusiasm among 
soldiers, he had their entire confidence, and secured 
their hearty obedience. He was a good as well as great 
man, and well deserved the fame he had so nobly won. 



CHAPTEK XVI. 

MAJOR-GENERAL JOSEPH HOOKER. 

HIS BIKTH AND NATIVITY — ENTERS WEST POINT — SEEVES TINDEE TAYLOR IN 
MEXICO — JOINS THE ARMY OF GENERAL SCOTT — PROMOTED FOR GALLANT 
CONDUCT AT THE NATIONAL BRIDGE AND CHAPDLTEPEO — RESIGNS HIS 

COMMISSION, AND BECOMES A CALIFORNIA FARMER APPOINTED BRIGADIER 

OF VOLUNTEERS AT THE COMMENCEMENT OF THE WAR 18 STATIONED 

BELOW WASHINGTON — BATTLE OF WILLIAMSBURG HIS AFTER SERVICES IN 

THE ARMY OF THE POTOMAC UNDER POPE BATTLE OF SOUTH MOUNTAIN 

OF ANTIETAM IS WOUNDED UNDER BURNSIDE — SUPERSEDES HIM — HIS 

CONFIDENT ORDERS FEELING OF THE PEOPLE — BATTLE OF CHANCELLORS- 

VIliLE — LEE MARCHES AROUND HIM — RESIGNS HIS POSITION — SENT TO 
CHATTANOOGA TO ASSIST ROSECRANS — OCCUPIES LOOKOUT VALLEY — 
BATTL?: ABOVE THE CLOUDS — HIS GALLANT RECORD IN THE ATLANTA 
CAMPAIGN — TERRIFIC FIGHT BEFORE THE CITY — OFFENDED AT HOWARD'S 
PROMOTION AND RESIGNS — SENT TO OHIO — NOW COMMANDS NEW ENG- 
LAND DEPARTMENT. 

Joseph Hooker was born in Hadley, Massachusetts, 
in the year 1819, and entered West Point at the early 
age of fourteen. Graduating, in 1837, at eighteen, he 
was made second lieutenant in the First Artillery. At 
I he conim en cement of the Mexican war he received a po- 
sition on Brig.-Gen. Hamar s staff, and was present at 
the l)attie of jlonterey, in which he exhibited that dash 
and daring that have ever since characterized him. He 
rode amid the shot and shell as if their shrieks were ex- 
citing music, and so distinguished himself by his gallant 
bearing that he was breveted captam. In March, 1847, 



A CALIFORNIA FARMER. 361 

he obtained the full rank of captain, with the post of 
Assistant- Adjutant-General. He afterwards joined Scott's 
army at Vera Cruz, and was made major and lieutenant- 
colonel for gallant conduct at the National Bridge and 
Chapultepec. In his despatch concerning the latter battle, 
Scott says, " Captain Hooker won special applause suc- 
cessively on the staff of Pillow and Cadwallader." This 
was a high encomium from the commander-in-chief, and 
shows that his bearing was so gallant as to be conspicu- 
ous even where all were brave. But the dull routine of 
military duties in time of peace did not suit him, and, in 
1853, he resigned his commission, and settled on a farm 
in California. This was the more remarkable, as he had 
reached the rank of lieutenant-colonel at the age of thirty- 
three — a rapidity of promotion which would have satis- 
fied, at that time, the ambition of most young officers. 
Many anecdotes are told of him while residing in Cali- 
fornia, all showing that the life of a farmer did not des- 
troy his love of excitement, and was not the one for 
which he by nature was fitted. The rebellion of 1861 
found him quite ready to resume once more his old pro- 
fession. Offering his services to the Government, he was 
made, in May, brigadier-general in the Army of the Po- 
tomac, and afterwards promoted to a division in Heintzel- 
man's Corps. From July to the next February, 1862, 
he was stationed on the north bank of the Potomac, in 
Southern Maryland, to watch the enemy, and defeat any 
attempt to cross over for the purpose of moving on Wash- 
ington in that direction. His division afterwards formed 
a part of McClellan s army in its movements on the Pen- 
insula. 

When it was ascertained that the enemy had evacu« 
ated Yorktown, Stoneman was immediately^ sent forward 



362 MAJOR-GENERAL JOSEPH HOOKER. 

with his cavalry to harass the rebel rear, and Hooker^ 
with his division, ordered to support him. The latter 
left camp about noon the 4th of May, and marched 
rapidly forward, till he was brought to a halt by Smith's 
division filing into the road in front of him. But ob- 
taining, after a long delay, permission to take the Hamp- 
ton road, he wheeled off just at night, and again pressed 
forward. It was dark as Erebus, and to make the march 
more difficult, the rain, falling in torrents, rendered the 
roads almost impassable. He, however, pushed on through 
the Cimmerian gloom, and mud and storm, till an hour or 
so before midnight, when he found it necessary to halt, 
and give his exhausted troops a little rest, and to wait for 
daylight, for he was close upon the enemy. Right there, 
in the middle of the miry road and gloomy forest, the 
column halted, and stood out the long dark night in the 
pelting rain, as it best could. With the first streak of 
dawn the bugles sounded " forward,"' and, drenched and 
weary, the division cautiously advanced. About five 
o'clock, just before leaving the woods, he ordered it to halt, 
and rode forward to ascertain the position of the enemy. 
He found Fort Magruder directly in his path, with a 
cordon of redoubts, stretching on 'either side to the James 
and York Rivers. In front of these redoubts, the forest 
had been cut away to give the artillery a clear sweep of 
an attacking force, and felled so as to entangle and ob- 
struct its march, and hold the troops under fire, while 
rifle-pits seamed the ground in every direction. Beyond, 
a wide plain extended to Willialnsburg, two miles distant, 
whose lofty shade-trees gave a picturesque appearance to 
the landscape. 

Thinking it his duty to hold the rebels in check tiU 
the main army could come up. Hooker determined, not- 



BATTLE OF WILLIAMSBURG.' 363 

tvitlistanding his inferior force, to advance at once to the 
attack. Emerging from the Avood, he was instantly sa- 
luted with the rebel artillery, and so well directed was 
the fire, that Webber s battery, w^hich had been hurried 
forward beyond the fallen timber, was swept clean of every 
cannonier before it had fired a single shot. Volunteers 
were immediately sent forward, and in a minute the bat- 
tery was manned, and began to hurl shell and shot in the 
hostile w^orks. Other guns were brought up, and between 
the batteries and sharp-shooters, by nine o'clock the guns 
of the fort were silenced. The infantry were now ad- 
vanced into position, and the battle opened. The retreat- 
ing army of the rebels beyond Williamsburg, hearing the 
firing, halted and sent back reinforcements, and Hooker 
had to contend with overwhelming numbers. Seeing 
this, he immediately sent back to Heintzelman for help. 
So heavily was he pushed, that he had to bring up all his 
reserves to check the onsets that were incessantly made, 
and each time with fresh troops and in greater numbers. 
Here and there he was forced back, } et he stubbornly 
held the road, which was the centre of his operations. 
Three times the hostile columns advanced to within 
eighty yards of this key to his position, determined at 
all hazards to force it by mere weight of numbers ; but 
the steady, desolating fire that met them was too much 
for human endurance, and shattered, r6nt, and bleeding, 
they fell back. Some of the regiments got out of am- 
munition, and were compelled to suj)ply themselves from 
the cartridge-boxes of the fallen. 

Thus he fought all the forenoon, and soon after mid- 
day Longstreet came up with a fresh division, when a 
simultaneous attack was made on his left and centre. So 
heavy was this onset, and so close and desperate the strug- 



364 MAJOR-GENERAL JOSEPH HOOKER. 

• 

gle, that though Hooker repulsed the attack, he lost four 
of his guns. Thus he stood, from early ui the morning 
till after four o'clock in the afternoon, one against three, 
cimging with death-like tenacity to his position, while his 
eye incessantly turned back along the road, to catch sight 
of the heads of the columns advancing to his support 
Heintzelman had come with his staff ; but the troops were 
floundering far back, with their artillery stuck fast in the 
mud. The arrival of Kearney, however, with his divi- 
sion at this juncture, relieved his weary, decimated divi- 
sion. Nearly 1,700 had fallen in this unequal struggle, 
and Hooker, enraged at his loss, and the unsatisfactory 
issue of the battle, so far as his division was concerned, 
blamed severely those whose business he deemed it to be 
to reinforce him. 

A part of Hooker s division participated in the battle 
of Fair Oaks, On the second day he himself led in per- 
son a charge of bayonets by two regiments, driving the 
enemy a mile. His appearance in this charge was gal- 
lant in the extreme. He also took an important part in 
the advance movement that was preparatory to a general 
assault on the works around Richmond, just previous to 
the flank attack that compelled McClellan to retreat to 
the James River. 

In this famous retreat, Hooker was directed to cover 
the Quaker road, over which the troops and artillery and 
'rains were to pass. This road, as it stretches toward the 
James River, is cut by the principal highways leading 
down from Richmond. Kearney's division was assigned 
to the same duty, and the two commanders, looking over the 
ground together early in the morning, to see by which the 
enemy would be most likely to advance, it was decided that 
Hooker shoul<I < stal-lish his division on the one that came 



BATTLE OF GLENDALE. 365 

e 

in near St. PauFs Church. Here the battle of Glendale 
was fought. Although at the outset McCalFs division 
was routed, and broke in confusion through his lines, he 
stopped the victorious advance of the enemy by the ter- 
rible fire he was able to pour into his ranks ; and cora- 
])elled him, after a severe struggle and heavy loss, to fall 
back. Hooker says, " The field on which they fought was 
almost covered with their dead and dying. From their 
torches we could see that the enemy was busy all night 
long in searching for his wounded ; but up to daylight the 
tbllowing morning, tliei-e had been no apparent diminu- 
tion in the heart-rending cries and groans of his wounded. 
The unbroken, mournful wail of human suffering was all 
that was heard from Glendale, during that long and dis- 
mal night." He then continued to fall back to the James 
River, and taking position on Malvern Hill, bore his 
part in the fearful battle that followed. 

For the part it took in the several battles of the 
Peninsula, his division became known as " Fio-htino- Joe 
Hookers division," and he acquired the sobriquet which 
his future career showed to be well earned — " Fighting; 
Joe Hooker." 

When the Army of the Potomac was recalled trom 
the Peninsula to assist Pope in front of Washington, 
Heintzelman's corps, to which Hooker's division belonged, 
was one of the first to reach him at Warrenton Junction. 
On the afternoon of the 27th of August, as Hooker, in 
obedience to orders, was falling back from this place to 
Manassas, he was attacked by General Ewell ; but he 
not only repulsed him, but attacking in turn, drove him 
along the railroad, and pressed him so closety that he was 
compelled to leave his dead and many of his wounded, 
and much of his baggage in our hands. 



366 MAJOR-GENERAL JOSEPH HOOKER. 

The battle of Groveton, that occurred two daj's after 
was fought by Sigel, till the arrival of Hooker's and 
Kearney's divisions, which did not reach the field till two 
o'clock Wearied with their long march, they needed 
rest ; but the roar of artillery had quickened their steps ; 
and at the sight of Hooker's noble division, a loud cheer 
went up from Sigel's corps. About five o'clock, he 
made a furious attack on Jackson, doubling up his 
left, and forcing it from the field, winning anew the 
title that had been given him. Never were troops 
carried into action with greater gallantry ; and where 
that division fought, the dead lay thick as autumn leaves. 
One of his brigades (Grover's) immortalized itself like 
" Le Terrible " regiment of Napoleon, by a bayonet 
charge that has but few parallels. With unbroken front 
and loud shouts, it threw itself on the line of the enemy, 
crushing it like an eggshell beneath its feet, and still 
storming on, struck a second, trampling it in scornful 
fury to pieces ; and yet unsatisfied with the work it had 
done, and seeing a third line confronting it, moved with 
levelled bayonets full upon it, and actuall}' pierced it be- 
fore its awful progress was stopped. But its terrible 
advance had alarmed the rebel commander, who, concen- 
trating an overwhelming force upon it, tore it with such 
a devastating fire, that it was compelled to fall back. 
This it did, not in confusion ; but proudly and haughtily, 
like those who felt themselves conquerors, even in retreats 

Hooker had been appointed major-general in July, 
and in September, in the reorganization of the army, 
preparatory to the Maryland campaign, was assigned 
to the First Army Corps. 

In the battle of South Mountain, on the 14th of this 



BATTLE OF ANTIETAM. 367 

montli, as a corps commander he added still more to his 
laurels. The attack, under Reno, began at seven o'clock in 
the morning, and was kept up with more or less seve-rity 
till two o'clock in the afternoon, when the heads of Hook- 
er's columns were seen coming briskly up the turnpike. 
At the welcome sight, the troops sent up loud cheers, 
which rolled joyously down the line, for all seemed to feel 
now, that victory was certain. 

At three o'clock, Hooker formed his line of battle at 
the base of the mountain, and gave the order to advance. 
Like an unbroken wave it swept up the rugged slope, 
slowly, yet steadily winning its way upward, and, after 
three hours' hard fighting, his victorious banners waved 
in the setting sun from the summit, and the shouts of 
triumph rolled down the farther side after the fleeing 
enemy. 

But it was at the battle of Antietam, that occurred 
a few days after, that Hooker showed his great ability as 
a commander more than ever before. In fact, we regard 
this as the true, culminating point of his fame. His ac- 
cession to the chief command of the army injured it, and 
in no subsequent battle of the war did he bear so im- 
portant a part as in this. Lee's army lay behind the 
heights that line the west bank of the stream, extending 
from near its mouth, where it empties into the Potomac, 
for several miles up. McClellan's plan was to cross 
Hooker's corps above, and come down on the rebel left, 
his movement to be supported by Mansfield, Sumner, and 
Franklin. When he had turned it, or compelled the enemy 
fco concentrate the bulk of his force against him, thereby 
weakening the right, Burnside was to cross on a stone 
bridge on our left, and forcing back Lee's right, push 
on to Sharpsburg, thus getting in the rebel rear, and 



368 MAJOR-GENERAL JOSEPH HOOKER. 

preventing the enemy from escaping across the Po- 
tomac. 

On the afternoon of the KJth, Hooker put his troops 
in motion, and crossing the stream, moved down on the 
rebel left. The corps marched compactly. Hooker, as 
usual, keeping well in advance to reconnoitre in person. 
The rebel pickets fell back before him until just at night, 
when, on crossing a grass-sown field, with woods on 
either side, he encountered the enemy in force. Forming 
his lines with his accustomed rapidity and decision, he at 
once advanced, but by this time it was dark, and the posi- 
tion of the rebels could be known only by the flash of 
their guns. For a short time it thundered and flamed 
there in the gloom, and then silence fell on the autumnal 
landscape, and the two hostile lines lay down close to 
each other to wait for the morning. Turning to his 
o-enerals. Hooker remarked, " We are through for to- 
night, gentlemen, but to-morrow we light the battle that 
will decide the fate of the Republic," and retired for the 
night to a neighboring barn to get some rest. But soon 
after there came a sudden crash through the gloom which 
broufj-ht him at once into the open air. He stood and 
listened a moment to the heavy volleys, and as he ascer- 
tained by the sound, the locality of the iiring, he smiled 
with a grim satisfaction, and remarked quietly, "We 
have no troops there — the rebels are shooting each other, 
it is Fair Oaks over again," and turned in again. Dur- 
ino- all that long night, however, ever and anon would come 
a rattling fire of musketry, or the heavy boom of cannon, 
keeping every one on the alert. 

With the morning light, Hooker was in the saddle, 
and began at once to push forward his batteries, and the 
great battle commenced. For half an hour the forces 



ANTIETAM. 369 

maintained their respective positions, and then Hooker 
gave the order, "Forward/"' With a cheer the line 
swept onward across a corn-iield, over the fence and be- 
yond it, until it came upon a dense ^vood. From out 
the dark recesses of this there suddenly burst terrific 
volleys, till those gloomy woods seemed turned into a 
mighty furnace shooting forth blasts of fire, before; which 
everything withered and shrivelled up. Our front melted 
away like frost work, and in ten minutes seemed half de- 
molished. The divided ranks recoiled, and the shouting 
rebels dashed after. Hooker saw the peril and sent in 
his nearest brigade to check the torrent, but it was swept 
away with the rest. He looked around for another, but 
none was near enough, unless he took one from his right, 
on which the enemy was even then advancing in threaten- 
in"- masses. But that onward rush aoainst his centre 
must be stopped at all hazards, and he sent to Doubleday 
the order, " Give me your best brigade." Down came 
the brigade on a run, and dashing through the timber in 
front, amid a storm of shot and bursting -shell and crash- 
ing limbs swept over the open field beyond, passing as 
it went, the fragments of three brigades, shattered by 
the rebel fire, and streaming to the rear. As it passed 
Hooker, his eye lighted with confidence and he tjuietly 
remarked, " I think they will hold it." The fighting now 
bec^ame terrific. Hooker, with his staff and orderlies all oft' 
galloping in every direction, rode alone backward and 
forAvard thi-ough the fire, his white horse a conspicuous 
mark for the rebel bullets. The brave General Hartsuff 
went doAvn severely wounded, and the white-haired Mans- 
field breathed out his gallant soul ; but still that white 
horse flitted unharmed through the smoke of battle. 
When at length Hooker got his supports up and his whole 



370 m4ljor-general joseph hooker. 

line firm and well protected, he determined to order a 
general advance. The crimson trampled corn-field which 
he had carried in the morning, and across which he had 
afterwards been driven, lay before him. A piece of woods 
to the right of it was the key to the position, and he de- 
termined to take it. To ascertain the best mode of attack, 
he rode out beyond his most advanced troops and ascend- 
ing a hill, dismounted and went forward on foot. Coolly 
finishing his reconnoissance, wliile all the time, from out 
the very piece of woods he was examining, the rebel vol- 
leys steadily issued, he returned and re-mounted his 
horse in the midst of a storm of bullets. The white steed 
had evidently attracted the notice of the enemy, and when 
they saw its rider re-mount to ride away, they made him 
a target, and a fresh volley swept every foot of that hill. 
Three men dropped at once by Hooker's side, and a bullet 
at the same time pierced his foot. Still keeping his 
saddle, though racked with pain, he rode slowly back a few 
steps, the blood flomng from his boot, and then turning 
in his seat, his pale face suddenly gleaming with the light 
of battle, he exclaimed, " There is a regiment to the nght, 
order it forward. Crawford and Gordon are coming up. 
Tell them to carry those woods and hold them — it is our 
fight." He then allowed himself to be led from the field. 
Sumner at that moment coming up, assumed command, 
and the fight went on, raging with increased ferocity. 
Hooker, on his back in the rear, heard the steady thunder- 
crash on the field he had left, and tossed uneasily as he 
thought how his noble corps was breasting the hurricane 
of fire, and he not there* to lead them. 

Kight nobly did he and Mansfield, and after them 
Sumner and Franklin and Sedgewick, fight their part of 
the battle of Antietam, but Burnside's failure made it 



SUPERSEDES BURNSIDE. 371 

only a partial victory, and yet so far as putting a stop to 
Lee's invasion was concerned, a complete one. 

It was some time before Hooker was again able to 
take the field, but in November he superseded Porter in 
the command of the Fifth Corps ; and shortly afterward, 
on Burnside assuming the chief command, was assigned 
the centre gTand division of the Army of the Potomac, 
comprising the Third and Fifth Corj^s. When the former 
commenced his rapid movement fi'om Warrenton to 
Fredericksburg, Hooker brought up the rear of the Grand 
Army. Having no faith in the success of Burn side's an- 
ticipated surprise of Lee, by getting across the Rappa- 
hannock into Fredericksburg, before the latter was aware 
of his intentions, he, while on the march, wrote to him, 
requesting to be permitted to fling his division over the 
river above the city, and throw up fortifications and hold 
the position till the rest of the army could effect a pas- 
sage, thus securing the heights which afterwards proved 
our destruction. Burnside, however, refused his con- 
sent. 

Hooker took no part in the great battle, save that 
a portion of his division arrived near its close as reinforce- 
ments. He was left in charge of the troops in the place 
when Burnside began to evacuate it, and by his repre- 
sentations, hurried the movements. 

On the 26th of January he superseded Burnside in 
the chief command of the Army of the Potomac, and 
Franklin and Sumner resigned their positions in it. 

" Fighting Joe Hooker " had now become a popular 
favorite, and by those who were captivated by the title, his 
accession to the chief command was hailed with unbound- 
ed delight, but those who knew his great qualities best, 
and were well aware that they were better fitted for a 

24 



372 MAJOR-GENERAL JOSEPH HOOKER. 

corps commander than a general-in-chief, were filled with 
apprehension. 

He immediately reorganized the army, paying especial 
attention to the cavalry, which, under his hand, became a 
powerful arm of the service. 

Issuing an order requiring all correspondents of the 
army to write over their own signatm^es, he, on the 27th 
of April, began his great movement over the Rappahan- 
nock. He succeeded in throwing his army across it a 
few miles above Fredericksburg, near the United States 
Ford, and began to move toward Chancellorsville. On 
the 30th, he issued the following Napoleonic address to 
his army: "It is with heartfelt satisfaction that the gen- 
eral commanding announces to the army that the opera- 
tions of the last three days have determined that our en- 
emy must ingloriously fly, or come out from behind their 
defences and give us battle on our own ground, where 
certg,in destruction awaits him." So confident was he of 
success, that he said that Lee's army was " the property 
of the Army of the Potomac." Indeed, his great anx- 
iety was to cut off Lee's retreat, and for this purpose he 
sent off his cavalry under Stoneman, to destroy the rail- 
roads in the rebel rear, and sever his communications 
with Richmond. On the 2d of May, he took up his 
headquarters at Chancellorsville. Sedge wick, with some 
twenty thousand men, had been left to cross at Freder- 
icksburg, and carry the heights, against which Burnside 
had dashed in vain. 

Everything seemed working well up to the time of the 
overwhelming attack of Stonewall Jackson on Howard's 
corps, which held the extreme right. But Howard's de- 
feat imperilled his conununication ^vitll his bridges, and 
the next day he had to change his position, and re-arrange 



CHANCELLORSVILLE. 373 

his line of battle. Attacked again, he fought a protract- 
ed, bloody, defensive battle, and although he was able to 
hold his position, yet when night came he found that his 
grand victorious march was ended ; and heavy rains in 
the meantime setting in, threatening to sweep away his 
bridges, he reluctantly gave the order to retreat. 

Sedgwick took the heights of Fredericksburg, but 
the defeat of Hooker enabled Lee to concentrate a heavy 
force against him, and he too was compelled to recross 
the river, narrowly escaping total destruction. 

It was a terrible disaster, and shook the country from 
limit to limit. The friends of Hooker were angry, and 
for some time insisted that it was no defeat, while his en- 
emies had no compassion on him, on account of the boast- 
ful manner in which he had conducted himself He had 
declared that the Army of the Potomac had failed to take 
Richmond on account of the incomjjetency of its leader — 
had predicted certain victory to it under his leadership, 
and otherwise so bore himself, that the sympathy which 
had been universally felt for Burnside on his defeat, was- 
not extended to him. 

It was impossible at first to get at the truth, but it after- 
wards came out, that Lee had attacked and defeated him 
with half his numbers. He consequently telt a contempt 
for his adversary, just as he had for Pope, and, as in the 
case of the latter, took the bold resolution to march 
around him, and invade Maryland and Pennsylvania. 
Carrying out his plan, he moved his vast army for nearly 
one hundred and iitty miles, around by the Shenandoah 
Valley, to the Potomac. Hooker sent out cavalry and in- 
fantry to ascertain his movements, and some severe light- 
ing occurred, but Lee did not for a moment arrest his 
march. Pouring his legions into the Shenandoah Val- 



374 MAJOR-GENERAL JOSEPH HOOKER. 

ley, he occupied all the passes of the Blue Ridge, com 
pelling Hooker to follow on east of the mountains, and 
finally effected the passage of the Potomac near Hagers- 
town, while the latter crossed below, and occupied Fred- 
ericksbui'g. 

The neglect to stop this invasion with his superior 
army caused the greatest dissatisfaction, and hushed all 
the angry defences hitherto made by his friends. At 
Fredericksburg he resio;ned his command, and Meade 

CO ' 

was appointed in his place. The reason given for this 
was, that Halleck refused to let him order the evacua- 
tion of Harpers Ferry ; but as Meade was permitted 
to do it the moment he assumed command, it is evi- 
dent that this refusal was only part of a plan to get rid of 
him. 

Popular favor is fickle, and Hookers case did not 
prove to be an exception to the general rule. 

But though his failure as Commander-in-Chief of the 
Army of the Potomac, had been complete, it could not 
blind the administration to his great merits. Stone^yall 
Jackson, the best general in the rebel army, and one of 
the best that ever commanded in any army, would have 
failed just as signally, had he been put in Lee's place. 
Nature designed neither of them to command vast inde- 
pendent armies, operating on a wide field. The power 
of combination required in such a leader is not common. 
Executive and administrative capacity do not always, 
or usually, go together. Ney and Murat could not be 
Napoleon, by putting them in his place. As a division 
or corps leader. Hooker, had no superior — in fact, the 
very title that captivated the public mind indicates the 
true power of the man. At all events, he was one that 
could not be spared from the army, for such generals 



BATTLE ABOVE THE CLOUDS. 375 

are not born every day; and once in his appropriate 
place, few could fill it like him. 

In the autumn, therefore, when Rosecrans, besieged 
at Chattanooga, asked for reinforcements. Hooker, with 
the Eleventh and Twelfth Corps was sent to his help. No 
higher compliment could have been paid him, than to 
place him over these corps, at whose head two such mag- 
nificent commanders stood as Slocum and Howard. 
Each was worthy to lead an army, and in no one par- 
ticular his inferior. 

As soon as Grant assumed command at Chattanooga, 
Hooker was directed to throw his army over the Ten- 
nessee, at Brown s Ferry, and establish himself in Look- 
out Valley. This was done by secretly floating a force 
in pontoons by night past the rebel pickets, which got 
possession of the southern bank, and held it till he could 
get his corps across. The movement was successful, 
though Hooker had a severe fight before he compelled 
the enemy to leave the Valley and retire to the slope of 
the mountain. 

Sherman, soon after arriving with his army from 
the Mississippi, Grant prepared to assault the rebel 
position in his front. Hookers part in the coming 
struggle was to carry Lookout Mountain, and tlius open 
direct communication with Grant at Chattanooga, and 
threaten the rebel left. This he did on the 24th of No- 
vember, the day that Sherman, miles up stream, was 
crossing his army, and establishing himself on the rebel 
right. 

It was a di'izzling, foggy day when the march began, 
and the clouds hung low and dark upon the lofty summit 
of Lookout. As Hooker looked up the rugged slopes, he 
saw that no common task had been assio-ned him ; but ii 



376 MAJOR-GENERAL JOSEPH HOOKER. 

was in just such emergencies that his great qualities ex 
hibited themselves. That cloud-capped summit must be 
won, and the first step taken toward victory. The bugles 
sounded "forAvard," and the columns took up their line of 
march for the base, and heedless of the iron-storm that 
beat from above upon them, reached it and began to 
climb like mountain goats, the steep ascent. Sometimes 
stopped for a moment, but never driven back, they kept 
unwaveringly on till they entered the low hanging clouds, 
which suddenly wrapped them from sight. Grant and 
Thomas, and others down in Chattanooga, gazed anx- 
iously toward the hidden summit, and listened with beat- 
ing hearts to the crashing vollies and deep roar of artil- 
lery that came out of the mysterious bosom of the clouds. 
Lookout, for the time, seemed famed Olympus on which 
Jupiter was thundering, or the gods contending in celes- 
tial fury. Nought could be seen, and though the heavy 
explosions of artillery remained stationary, the vollies of 
musketry seemed to creep nearer and nearer to the sum 
mit. At this moment of intense excitement, the fog sud 
denly lifted, letting down the light of heaven upon the 
mountain top, and revealing as by magic to the gazing 
thousands below, a scene of sublime and thrilling interest. 
There amid the rocky ledges, in front of the rebel works, 
stood our gallant troops, their banners mere specks 
against the sky. The battle was raging furiously, for 
this was the last foothold of the enemy — driven from 
the summit, the mountain was Hooker's. The whole 
army in Chattanooga were witnesses of this strange fight 
among the clouds, and when at length they saw the 
enemy driven out of his works, and our banners wave 
above them, they broke forth into a shout that rent the 
heavens, and long loud acclamations surged backward 



HIS CORPS AT RESACA. 377 

and forward through the Valley. There was shouting, 
too, up on the heights, and Hooker's face flushed, and 
his eye kindled as he stood and looked down on tlie 
"cloud of witnesses" to his victory, below. 

He now opened communications with Chattanooga, 
and everything was ready for the next day's fight. In 
the morning, when Sherman, far away to the rebel right, 
opened the battle, he moved down on the left. His at- 
tack, however, was delayed for several hours, on account 
of the destruction of a bridge by the enemy in his retreat, 
which he ^v'as compelled to stop and rebuild, so that it 
was near four o'clock in the afternoon before he reached 
the point which rendered it safe for Grant to order the as- 
sault. 

Hooker did not come up till Bragg was flying in ter- 
ror from Missionary Ridge, but he joined in the pursuit, 
and day and night pressed the enemy ^vith such vigor that 
he left cannon, caissons and trains, scattered all along the 
road. Once the enemy turned and caught him heavily, 
but nothing could stop his progress till he was recalled, 
and the shattered, demoralized army of the rebels took 
refuge in Dalton. 

The next spring, when Sherman organized his cam- 
paign against Atlanta, Hooker's corps was joined to the 
Army of the Cumberland, under Thomas. A part of his 
forces assisted McPherson in his flank movement which 
compelled the evacuation of Dalton, and at Resaca he 
distinguished himself by an assault on the enemy's po- 
sition which he pressed with unprecedented pertinacity. 
He carried line after line of rifle pits, but at last Butter- 
field, who was in charge of the column, encountered a 
lunette which defied every attempt to take it. Determined 
not to be foiled, he charged up to the works and lay down 



378 MAJOR-GENERAL JOSEPH HOOKER. 

under them for protection. So near were the soldiers 
that they could touch the rebel guns with their hands. 
They lay here all night, and actually dug away several 
pieces of artillery and pulled them down into their midst. 

Hooker advanced his skirmish line at ten o'clock at 
night, lighting up the dark mountain sides with flashes of 
musketry, but valor was vain against the impregnable 
heights, and Sherman had to resort again to flanking. 

In doing this Hooker s corps came upon the enemj 
near Dallas, and attacked him with such fury that he was 
forced back step by step toAvards the railroad junction, the 
vital point aimed at. He might have secured it, but for 
the coming on of night and a driving rain storm. This 
corps bled freely at every step, yet at the close of each 
battle Hooker was always ready for another. 

Shortly after, at Kenesaw Mountain, in that fierce, 
futile assault, his corps, though defeated, covered itself 
with glory. As many battles as Hooker had been in, he 
never made a more desperate charge than he did on the 
impregnable works here. 

His last great battle was on the 20th of July, when 
Hood made that first grand assault on Thomas, near Peach 
Tree Creek. In that terrific onslaught, which, for a 
time, terribly shook Thomas' whole line of battle, Hooker 
bore the brunt of the shock. The rest of the army had 
thrown up partial intrenchments, but this brave old corps 
stood entirely uncovered in the field — their firm granite 
formations their only defences, and never did its grand qual- 
ities shine out so resplendently as on this occasion. In 
deep successive lines the enemy came on, shouting like 
fiends, and charging with a desperation they had never 
before exhibited. Though outnumbered, Hooker calmly 
awaited the onset, for it was one of these fights he gloried 



A FEARFUL FIGHT. 379 

in. There were no complications to disturb him — no 
works to flank or obstacles to remove. It was a fair test 
of heroic valor — a display of cool generalship and indom- 
itable courage — a quick, close death-grapple, which no 
enemy ever did or ever will make with Hooker without 
remembering it to his latest day. It is impossible to des- 
cribe this battle — it was literally a field of slaughter — the 
valley of death. Men fell like grain before the reaper — 
there was scarcely a moment's cessation to the close, over- 
whelming volleys, and nought could be seen but surging 
clouds of smoke, except now and then as they parted, a 
steadfast line of blue stood revealed on which headlong 
masses were rolling, while shouts and cries, blending 
strangely in with the horrid din, conspired to form a mad- 
dening spectacle. Again and again hurled back, only to 
come on anew with more desperate ferocity, the rebels 
seemed determined to be annihilated or break through 
that steadfast line. Nearly whole companies fell together 
and lay in death as they had stood in line. It is no 
figure of speech to say the earth was heaped with the 
dead, for five thousand rebels strewed the summer fields, 
while over one thousand seven hundred on our side swelled 
the ghastly number that made the circumscribed spot a 
Golgotha. The loss in Thomas' army fell almost entirely 
on Hooker s corps. 

His military career was now drawing to a close. The 
death of McPherson, a few days after, left the Army of 
the Tennessee without a leader, and Howard, command- 
ing the Eleventh Corps, was placed at its head. This 
often ded Hooker. He felt that in putting his inferior in 
•rank above him, after all his services, was doing him a 
grievous wrong — it was equivalent, it seemed to him, to 
a condemnation of his conduct. Besides, he felt that the 



380 MAJOR-GENERAL JOSEPH HOOKER. 

great motive to hazard one's life on the battle-field was 
taken away, for no matter how patriotic a leader may be, 
he fights for promotion as well as for his country. More- 
over, Hooker was not of a temperament to submit to 
what he believed! an injustice, or indignity, and. he at 
once resigned ar^d came home. 

It is hard to blame him for this step. By the rules 
which govern military men, we cannot see how he could 
well do otherwise. Nor should Sherman be blamed, for 
thei'e is no evidence that he was governed by personal 
feelings, or yielded in any way to favoritism. He was 
unquestionably conti'olled by the best motives, and 
doubtless had reasons which he did not deem proper to 
give to the public. It was plainly his duty to do that 
which he believed the best interests of his country and 
the welfare of the army required. From the fall of 
Atlanta to the close of the war, he was employed 
no more in the field. In 1865 he was placed over 
the Department of tlie East with headquarters in 
New York City. In 1866 he was transferred to 
Detroio. In 1867 he was mustered out of the 
volunteei- service, and was for some time on the board 
for retirement of officers. Soon after he was stricken 
with paralysis, and at his own request was placed 
on the retired list with the full rank of Major-Gen eral, 
and passed his time between New York City and Garden 
City, L. I., where he died and was buried in 1879. 

His personal appearance gave no indication of his re- 
solute, determined character, though his tall, command- 
ing form made him a conspicuous leader. Still, he had 
those military qualities which would have arrested the 
eye of the first Napoleon, and under him, like Murat and 
Ney, he would have risen to be a marshal of the empire. 



CHAPTER XVII. 



MAJOR-GENERAL HENRY WARNER SLOCUM. 

THE BENEFIT OF WEST POINT ACADEMY — SLOOUM's BIKTH — GEADTIATE8 XT 

WEST POINT — SENT TO FLORIDA STATIONED AT CHAELESTON STUDIES 

LAW — RESIGNS HIS COMMISSION AND OPENS A LAW OFFICE IN 8TEA0USE — 

VOLUNTEERS IN THE ARMY AND IS MADE COLONEL WOUNDED AT BULL 

RUN MADE BRIGADIEE-GENEEAL COMMANDS A DIVISION HIS CAREER ON 

THE PENINSULA UNDER m'cLELLAN — AT SOUTH MOUNTAIN AND ANTIETAM 

SUPERSEDES BANKS — AT OHANOELLORSVILLE COMMANDS THE LEFT WING 

AT GETTYSBURG IS SENT INTO TENNESSEE PROTECTS THE COMMUNICA- 
TIONS BETWEEN CHATTANOOGA AND NASHVILLE PLACED OVER THE DE- 
PARTMENT OF VIOKSBURG DESTROYS THE BRIDGES OVER PEAEL RIVER — 

CUT OFF BY THE ENEMY — DEFEATS HIM EXPEDITION TO POET GIBSON — 

A NIGHT ATTACK TAKES HOOKER's PLACE AS COMMANDER OF THE TWEN- 
TIETH CORPS — ENTERS ATLANTA PLACED OVER THE LEFT WING OF SHER- 

MAN's ARMY — MAECH THROUGH GEORGIA THROUGH THE 0AR0LINA8 — 

BATTLES OF AVERYSBORO' AND BENTONVILLE — HIS OHARACTEE. 

The true value of West Point was never known till 
it was developed by this war. For years, the nation had 
been educating young men to the profession of arms, 
many of ^^om, soon growing tired of the monotonous 
duty of holding posts on our distant frontier, and of chas- 
ing Indians, resigned their commissions, and entered other 
professions. Their education, therefore, seemed thrown 
away; as the Government apparently received no benefit 
from it. But as soon as this war broke out, all over the 
land — from banks, law offices, and counting-houses, they 



382 MAJOR-GENERAL HENRY WARNER SLOCUM. 

started forth, men of thorough military education, ready 
to step to the head of our armies and lead them to vic- 
tory. The absurd attempt to extemporize generals from 
political life, after costing us much precious blood and 
treasure, had to be given up, and men of military educa- 
tion take charge of our armies. The nation then saw the 
rich fruit of the military school at West Point. 

Prominent among these is General Slocum. A highly 
esteemed lawyer in Syracuse, his early education had 
been forgotten in the profession which he expected to fol- 
low for the rest of his life. But at the call to arms, his 
briefs were thrown aside, his cases dismissed, and he 
went forth to pay back to his country, a hundredfold, the 
expenses of his education. 

Henry Warner Slocum was born in Delphi, Onon- 
daga Co., N. Y., September 24th, 1827. Receiving the 
appointment of cadet to West Point, he entered the 
Academy, and graduated in 1852. Being appointed 
second lieutenant in the First Artillery, he, in the au- 
tumn, was sent to Florida. Promoted to first lieutenant, 
he was transferred to Charleston harbor, where he re- 
mained till 1857. Becoming tired of garrison life, he 
determined to enter another profession, and so, while here, 
commenced the study of law in the office of B. C. Pres- 
ley, sub treasurer at Charleston. Having finished his 
studies, he resigned his commission, and returning to his 
native county, opened a law office m Syracuse, where 
the rebellion found him. Boused by the call of his coun- 
try, he offered his services, and was appointed, in May, 
colonel of the Twenty-seventh Regiment of New York 
Volunteers. This regiment formed a part of McDowell's 
army, when it moved on Manassas ; and in the battle of 
Bull Bun that followed, he was shot through the thigh. 



RAPID PROMOTION. 383 

His behaviour in this, his first fight, received special men- 
tion fi'oni his immediate commander. Porter, who says : 
" Colonel Slocum was wounded while leading his gallant 
Twenty-seventh to the charge." 

Next August, he received the appointment of brig- 
adier-general, and was assigned to the command of a 
brigade in Franklins division. When the" latter was 
given the command of the Sixth Provisional Corps, he 
took his place at the head of the division. His rapid 
promotion shows that he exhibited rare ability. 

He lay along the Chickahominy during that fatal 
summer, taking no part in the engagements that occurred, 
until the seven days' battle commenced. Being sent to 
the aid of General Porter, when so sorely pressed at 
Gaines' Mill, he helped to beat back the enemy on that 
terrible day. In the retreat to the James River, he, on 
the last day of June, held the right of the main line of 
the battle on Charles City road, and though attacked by 
superior numbers, firmly maintained his ground. 

On the 4th of July, while the army lay along the 
James River, he was made major-general. 

Connnanding a division in the IMaryland campaign, 
under McClellan, he took part in the battle of South 
Mountain ; and at Antietam, when Franklin crossed the 
creek at one o'clock, and came to the help of Hooker, he 
was sent forward with his division, and nobly resisted the 
farther advance of the enemy. 

In October, he was assigned to the corps previously 
under General Banks, but after the failin-e of Burnside's 
attack on Fredei'icksburg, was ordered to reinforce the 
Army of the Potomac. When Hooker, who had super^ 
seded Burnside, crossed the Rappahannock to give Lee 
battle at Cbancellorsville, Slocum had under him the Filth, 



384 MAJOR-GENEEAL HENRY WARNER SLOCUM. 

Eleventh, and Twelfth Corps. On both days of that dis- 
astrous fight, his position was near the solitary house of 
the place, and throughout the fight and retreat he show- 
ed himself to be the cool, self-poised, and prompt com- 
mander that he had always been, and which made him 
distinguished even in the brilliant group of generals of 
which he was a member. 

But at Gettysburg, his qualities as a great leader 
shone forth with increased splendor. He was marching 
rapidly toward that place on the day when Reynolds was 
beaten back and killed. Howard, who then assumed 
command, finding himself severely pressed, sent back 
courier after courier to him and Sickles to come to his 
relief Holding grimly on to Cemetery Hill, he turned 
his eye anxiously in the direction from which they would 
make their appearance, and at length, toward evening, when 
he caught sight of Slocum's long line of bayonets moving 
swiftly forward, a heavy load lilted from his heart. 

In the next day's battle Slocum commanded the right 
of the army, composed of the Twelfth Corps, a part of 
the Second and Sixth, and, at times, the Fifth Corps. 
But little demonstration was made against his strong po- 
sition during the day, for Lee was apparently determined 
to crush the left wing, and hence massed his troops there 
in overwhelming numbers. So heavily was this wing 
pressed that again and again Slocum was called upon for 
reinforcements, which he kept sending till he had but a 
thin line to defend his own position. The enemy, baffled 
in his determined efforts to break the left, and apparently 
ascertaining how weak Slocum had become, just at night 
fell furiously upon him. With his slender force, the latter 
bore up for awhile with heroic firmness against this sudden, 
overwhelming attack, and rode along the line, steadying it 



AT GETTYSBURG. 385 

by his presence and voice. But he could not get his 
troops back from the left fast enough, nor did reinforce- 
ments reach him soon enough from any quarter to enable 
him to maintain his ground, and he was compelled to fall 
back a short distance, abandoning some rifle-pits, and a 
strong position to the enemy. The latter, elated by his 
success, now pressed forward with shouts to complete the 
victory, and from dusk till ten o'clock at night, the battle 
raged furiously at this point, lighting up the whole land- 
scape Avith flame. Ewell commanded the rebel forces, 
and though he made superhuman efforts to press the ad- 
vantage he had gained, he was repulsed in every attempt 
with fearful slaughter. Still, he held that strong position, 
which must be retaken, or the next day's battle might be 
lost. Slocum felt this, and smarting under the defeat he 
had suffered from the withdrawal of his troops to succor 
the left, determined, at all hazards, to win it back. 
Gathering up his forces, therefore, he, with the first break 
of day, moved steadily on the enemy. Ewell, seeing his 
approach, at once ordered a headlong charge, the like of 
which is seldom witnessed. " It was desperation against 
courage. The fire of the enemy was mingled with yells, 
pitched even above its clangor. They came on and on, 
while Slocum's troops, splendidly handled and well 
posted, stood unshaken to receive them. The fire Avith 
which it did receive them was so rapid and so thick as to 
envelope the ranks of its deliverers with a pall that shut 
them from sight during the battle, which raged thence- 
forward for six dreary hours. Out of this pall no 
stragglers came to the rear. The line scarcely flinched 
from its position during the entire conflict. Huge masses 
of rebel infantry threw themselves into it again and again 
in vain. Back, as a ball hurled against a rock, those 



386 MAJOR-GENERAL HENRY WARNER SLOCUM. 

masses recoiled, and were reformed to be hurled anew 
against it with a fierceness unfruitful of success — fruitful 
of carnage as before. It seemed as if the gray-uniformed 
troops, who w^ere advanced and readvanced by their 
officers up to the very edge of the line of smoke, were im- 
pelled by some terror in their rear, which they were as 
unable to withstand as they were to make headway 
against the fire in their front. It was hard to believe 
such desperation voluntarj^ It was harder to believe 
that the army which withstood and defeated it was 
mortal." 

So did Slocum fight on this second eventful day, until 
the enemy, beaten at all points, gave it up, and fell back 
disheartened. The peril in which he suddenly found 
himself brought out all the reserve force of his nature, 
and the responsibility unexpectedly thrown upon him 
exalted, instead of depressed, him. It is not the winning 
of a single battle, but the proving equal to any emer- 
gency, even the greatest, that tests the true quality of a 
military leader — nay, this alone stamps him the great 
commander. 

The defeat of Rosecrans at Chickamauga, late in the 
fall, necessitated the sending of immediate reinforcements 
to him, and the Eleventh and Twelfth Corps, commanded 
by Howard and Slocum, were rapidly transferred thither 
by railroad. On their arrival in Tennessee, Slocum, with 
a portion of the Twelfth Corps and other troops was left 
to guard the line of communication between Nash\dlle 
and Chattanooga. He remained here till the next spring, 
when, in organizing his army for the Atlanta camjDaign, 
Sherman consolidated the Eleventh and Twelfth Corps, 
forming the Twentieth, which was placed under Hooker 
He was now placed m command of the District of Vicks- 



TWO SUCCESSFUL FIGHTS. 387 

burg, embracing both sides of the river, from the mouth 
of the White to that of the Red River. 

In June, Sherman, on the march for Atlanta, sent 
Slocum a dispatch, directing him to take such troops as 
could be spared from the garrisons of Vicksburg, and at- 
tempt the destruction of the railroad bridges over the 
Pearl River at Jackson. Though he could muster a force 
of bat twenty- three hundred he succeeded in accomplish- 
ing the task assigned him. But the rebels in the mean- 
time had concentrated all the troops in the State in his 
rear, for the purpose of cutting off his return, and occupy- 
ing a strong position, felt confident of holding it and 
thus securing his destruction. Slocum saw at once that it 
must be carried at all hazards ; still the odds were heavily 
against him, for not only was the rebel force equal in 
numbers to his own, but they had the advantage of a 
strong position, while he could bring but a portion of his 
little army into action, as he had a large train to protect. 
He, however, moved boldly against it on the 4th of July, 
and, after a sharp contest, drove the enemy back and 
cleared the road to Vicksburg. 

The next week, in order to keep reinforcements fron 
reaching Hood, he started an expedition to Port Gibson 
He had nearly reached Grand Gulf, when the enemy sud- 
denly came down on him in a night attack, expecting to 
take him by surprise and sweep his camp in one over- 
whelming charge. But Slocum was the last man to be 
caught in this way, which the enemy found to his cost, for 
he was not only repulsed, but lost many officers and men, 
among whom was the commander. Major Peyton, taken 
prisoner. 

When Hooker was relieved from the command of the 
Twentieth Corps before Atlanta, Slocum took his place, 

25 



388 MAJOR-GENERAL HENRY WARNER SLOCUM. 

•but during that bold movement round Atlanta to the 
Macon Road, he remained on the Chattahoochie, guard- 
ing the communications. On the night of the evacuation, 
he. though seven miles away, heard the explosions taking 
place in the city, and saw the heavens lurid with the 
flames of burning railroad trains and cotton, and suspect- 
ing the cause, sent out early in the morning a reconnois- 
sance towards the enemy's works. Finding them aban- 
doned, he, wdth banners flying and bands playing, marched 
into the city and took up his headquarters at the Trout 
House. 

When Sherman planned his great campaign across 
Georgia, he divided his army of over 50,000 men into 
two wings, and to show his appreciation of Slocum, gave 
him command of the left, composed of the Fourteentli 
and Twentieth Corps. A greater compliment could not 
have been paid him. 

While Howard, commanding the right wing, moved 
down the Macon Road, he was to march eastward along 
the Atlanta and Augusta Railroad, destroying it as he 
advanced. On the 15th day of November, he marched 
out on separate roads, and began to destroy the railroad, 
inch by inch, burning depots, cotton-gins, shops, factories 
and all public buildings. A long line of conflagration 
marked his passage, sending terror through the country 
that till now had deemed itself secure from the ravages of 
war. When near Covington, one of his soldiers, while 
out on a ibraging expedition was killed by bushwhackers. 
He immediately put in force the threat of retaliation, 
made by Sherman, and the torch soon laid waste the 
habitations of the peaceful dAvellers of the place, near 
which the bushwhackers Avere encountered. In this fear- 
ful retribution, unfortunately the Methodist College of 



GEORGIA CAMPAIGN. 389 

(3xford was destroyed, and with it the large library it 
contained, with all its cabinet and apparatus, which cost 
nearly a million of dollars. This was a cause of deep 
regret, for institutions of learning, books, and those things 
that can be used only in the advance of peaceful science, 
should be sacred even in war, and the torch that kindles 
private dwellings should spare colleges and books. 

Slocuni's two corps turned off, one at Madison, and 
the other at Covington, and moved south to Milledge- 
ville, the capital of ilie State, reaching it one day before 
HoAvard, with Sherman, entered it. As he rode in with 
his staff, the Mayor and officers of the city met him, 
formally tendering its surrender, and begging that private 
property might be saved from destruction, and the people 
from violence. Slocum curtly replied that he did not 
command a band of desperadoes and cut- throats. 

His march thus far had been through the fat of the 
land, and the soldiers, having no enemy to tight, improved in 
their appearance and grew hilarious and jovial. His train 
of six hundred wagons was all brought through safely, 
a dusky cloud of negroes accompanying it, loaded 
down with such household furniture as they could carry 
on their backs. 

At Milledgeville, the two wings united and moved on 
together, though Slocum continued to threaten Augusta, 
as at first, until they reached Millen, some eighty miles 
from Savamiah. Here the whole army wheeled south, 
and entering the vast stretches of pines, moved rapidly 
doAvn tOAvard the city. 

One of the divisions of his corps, under General Geary 
was the first to enter it, and received its surrender from 
the Mayor. 

When Sherman, after his month's rest, started on his 



390 MAJOR-GENERAL HENRY WARNER SLOCUM. 

northward march, Slocum, still commanding the left 
wing, was sent up the Savannah on his old mission — to 
tln^eaten Augusta. He marched up both sides of the 
river till he came to Sister's Ferry, where he brought his 
army together on the Carolina shore. It took, however, 
several days to accomplish this, for the winter rains had 
swollen the river till it overflowed the banks, and covered 
all the surrounding country ; turning the' low and level 
fields into a broad lake three miles wide. Such a flood had 
not been knoAvn for more than twenty years, and it seemed 
as if Providence had determined in this critical juncture 
to bring Slocum to a long halt. He looked at the vast 
spreading sea before him with a good deal of anxiety, 
but, though the necessity was urgent that he should move 
immediately, he was compelled to wait here till the wa- 
ters began to subside. As soon, however, as the crossing 
could be commenced with any degree of safety, he put 
his army in motion. Over the inundated fields — the 
ranks often standing waist-deep in the flood — and along 
roads still half covered with water, the colunms moved 
rapidly inland. 

When he reached solid ground, in order to make up 
for lost time, he marched eighteen miles a day, although 
cavalry were constantly hovering around his front, de- 
stroying bridges over the swollen streams, and felling 
trees across the roads, thus obstructing and delaying his 
progress. Rebridging the streams, and clearing the 
roads, made his march exceedingly laborious, but the 
troops which had lived so luxuriously in Georgia, now 
showed that they could endure hardships cheerfully. It 
rained almost incessantly, making the fields and roads 
horribb, and the night encampments gloomy and cold, 
but not a murmur was heard. With the morning light, 



IN SOUTH CAROLINA. 391 

the bugle-call roused them alike in stormy and pleasant 
weather, and they pushed on over the dreary country 

The enemy persisted in believing that Charleston, the 
hot-bed of secession, and the object of so many attacks by 
our iron-clad fleet, and the goal toward which Gilmore, 
with such wonderful engineering skill, had worked so 
long, must be the prize Sherman was after, and kno^ving 
that the preservation of the railroads running into it by 
way of Branchville was indispensable to its safety, held 
the line of the Edisto, which protected these, till the last 
moment. But when at length the rebel leaders were 
told that Slocuin was within thirty miles of Augusta, and 
Kilpatrick within about half that distance, they concluded 
that Sherman had duped them, and that Augusta, and 
not Charleston, was his real point of destination. But 
that city was full of machine shops, laboratories, arsenals, 
rolling stock, and cotton, and must be held at all haz- 
ards, and Wheeler, who had been in front, hurried 
oif to defend it, as did also Cheatham's corps of Hood's 
army. 

The main object of the long march toward that city 
now being accomplished, Slocum suddenly turned his 
back on the place, and wheeling to the north and east, 
swept through the upper portions of the State, separating 
Charleston from Augusta. 

Having accomplished the work assigned him, he, in 
conjunction with the other wing, marched rapidly toward 
Columbia, and struck the Saluda about two miles west 
of the city. Ordering the bridges over Broad River 
to be destroyed, he prevented Cheatham, who had hastened 
from Augusta as soon as he discovered Sherman's real 
design, from getting in his front — for the rebel com- 
mander, having no pontoons, was compelled to keep on 



392 MAJOR-GENERAL HENRY WARNER SLOCUM. 

up stream till he could find a ford, and thus was left far 
in the rear. 

When the army left Columbia, Slocum was still Slier 
man's left hand to feint with, while he struck with his 
right. All the way from Atlanta to Savannah he had 
done this, threatening Augusta with this wing, while his 
real object was Savannah. So, when he left Savannah, 
he feinted again with it on the same place, while he struck 
at Columbia; and now for the third time he with it 
threatened Charlotte, thus holding Johnston there, and 
uncovering Fayetteville, the point he designed to reach. 

Kilpatrick, all this time was covering Slocum's flank, 
and by his skilful movements enabled him to cross Lynch 
River without opposition, the passage being effected just 
before dark. The country beyond it, which he must tra- 
verse before he reached hio-h o-round, was a horrible one 
to carry troops and artiller}^ over ; yet, all night long he 
struggled onward through gloomy swamps and over rain- 
swollen streams, the bridges of which had been destroyed 
by the enem}^ This night march is one that he and his 
troops will long remember. To a less resolute man the 
route he took ^vould have seemed impassable. Torches 
were kmdled to light up the gloom, while the soldiers, 
standing to their waists in water and mud, laid pontoons, 
or built corduroy crossings over treacherous places in the 
swamps. Now moving in the glare of torches, and now 
lost in the deep shadows of the forests, the army looked 
like a spirit host moving through the shadowy realms of 
the unseen world. Daylight brought no improvement, 
except that it made the gloom and difficulties of the route 
more apparent. Weary, hungry, and covered with mud, 
the army floundered on all the forenoon, and not till 
twelve o'clock, the 9th of March, did it reach solid ground 



BATTLE OF BENTONVILLE. 393 

Here it halted for a short rest, and then resuming its 
march toward Fa}etteville, at Cheraw, met for the first 
time since it left Savannah, the ri^ht wino;. 

When Sherman finally left Fayetteville to march on 
Goldsboro', he ordered Slocmn to move up the river 
and threaten Raleigh. Kilpatrick, marching in ad- 
vance with his cavalry, about six miles from A.verys- 
boro\ met a heavy body of rebel infantry coming 
down from Raleigh, evidently to take position at 
a ravine that extended ti'om the river to an impenetrable 
swamp. Seeing how hnportant it was that this should 
be prevented, he determined to hold the force at 
bay till Slocum, six miles in his rear, could come up. 
Taking a strong position, he sent back to the former a 
courier urging him to hurry forward with all possible 
speed. Slocum immediately ordered General Williams 
with the Twentieth Corps to push on, while he followed 
with his other corps — the Fourteenth. The former ar- 
rived in time to drive the enemy back at all points, and 
over and out of his first line of works, capturing three 
guns. Slocum now came on the field with his staff, and 
forming his line of battle, steadily advanced upon the en- 
emy, pushing him remorselessly back till late in the night. 
Johnston, finding that he could not resist his advance, re- 
treated under cover of the darkness. The rebel commander 
now discovered that Sherman ^vas aimino- at Golds- 

o 

boro\ not Raleigh; and hastily calling in Hardee, moved 
to Bentonville, and entrenched. Slocum, moving in the 
same direction, came upon him unexpectedly, and though 
at first he thought that only a small detachment was in 
his front, he soon discovered that he had the combined 
armies of Johnston, Hardee and Hoke, on his hands. His 
position he saw at a glance was one full of peril, and iie 



394 MAJOR-GENERAL HENRY WARNER SLOCUM. 

despatched a courier to Sherman, who had left him an 
hour and a half before, to inform him of the state of af 
fairs. In the meantime, he chose an admirable position, 
and posted his artillery so as to sweep his entire front. 
He then sent on Morgan's division to establish another 
line, half a mile in advance. Johnston, seeing the com- 
parative smallness of this force, suddenly advanced in 
overwhelming numbers, and overpowering it by sheer 
weight of numbers, hurled it broken and disorderly back, 
with the loss of three guns, to the strong line that Slocum 
with such admirable forecast had selected. Hastily throw- 
hig up breastworks of rails and earth, the latter now 
waited till the rest of his army could come up. The 
Fourteenth Corps and the balance of the Twentieth soon 
appeared in sight, and swept rapidly along into the posi- 
tions assigned them. It was now four o'clock in the after- 
noon, and Slocum had hardly got everythmg ready when 
the enemy was seen coming boldly down in three mas- 
sive columns. Like Hood's at Atlanta, the onset was one 
of the most desperate of the war. In successive waves, 
one column followed another, determined to carry Slo- 
cum's position at any sacrifice. Mowed down b}^ our 
batteries, and the terrible fire of the infantry, the first 
column reeled backwards and broke, when the se*'ond 
column came on in the same headlong desperation. But 
right in their path was Davis' corps, that at Chicka- 
mauo-a, under Thomas, rolled back column after column 
of the foe — and stopped it with one terrible blow. The 
whole fury of the attack spent itself in less than an hour, 
and yet in that time the enemy made six successive as- 
saults. The last charge broke for a moment Slocum's line ; 
but it recovered its position, and the rebel army, bafiled 
and discouraged, fell back to its entrenchments. So close 



HIS PERSONAL APPEARANCE. 395 

and murderous was the combat, that many of tht enemy's 
dead lay within our lines, and even around the head- 
quarters of the generals. For the time it lasted, it was 
one of the most sanguinary battles of the war, and thi^ 
only serious one fought between Atlanta and Raleigh. 
Sherman had expected this battle ; but did not intend to 
have it thrown on Slocum alone, and was strongly excited 
when he first heard of it. Sending word to him to stand 
fast, he hurried Howard over to his relief, and though 
the next day some severe fighting was done, Johnston, 
seeing what a heavy force was concentrating against him, 
withdrew in the night, leaving the road ojjen to Golds- 
boro\ 

No better fighting was seen during the war than at 
Bentonville, on the 19th of March, for Johnston must 
have had double the number of Slocum, and a less able 
general would have been overborne. 

It will thus be seen that all the real heavy fighting 
between Savannah and Raleigh was done by Slocum's 
left wing, for Bentonville was Slocum's battle. From the 
day that he started till now, he had not made a single 
mistake, and fully justified the confidence that Sherman 
had reposed in him. 

HIS CHARACTER. 

General Slocum is a man of fine personal appearance, 
being above the medium height, and possessing a man- 
ner that at once attracts the beholder. His lono- brown 
wavy hair is pushed back behind his ears, which gives 
additional force to the fi:'ank, open expression of his 
countenance. His eyes are brown and sparkle with light, 
while his whole expression inspires confidence and trust, 



396 MAJOR-GENERAL HENRY WARNER SLOCUM. 

and gives him a sort of magnetic power over his troops. 
Probably there is no general in the service who is more 
thoroughly master of all the details of his profession than 
he. A lover of order and a strict disciplinarian, he 
brought the Twentieth Corps to a state of perfection that 
has given it a national reputation. It was of vital im- 
portance to Sherman in the novel campaigns he was 
entering upon, to have commanders over the tw^o wings 
of his army that never made mistakes, and it was on this 
account he brought Slocum from Vicksburg to be his left 
hand in the long march he contemplated. Probably no 
commander ever leaned with such implicit confidence on 
three subordinates, as Sherman did on Thomas, Howard 
and Slocum. 

Slocum's character cannot be better summed up than 
in the language of an eminent judge, who in a private 
letter never designed to be made public, says: "He was 
always equal to the task set before him, and never was 
knowai to fail in any enterprise which he undertook. He 
is certainly one of the most persevering and indefatigable 
men I ever knew, and was always esteemed lucky, while 
it w^as plain to me that his successes were the result of 
calculation and the most indomitable energy. While he 
is modest and unobtrusive, he possesses genius of the 
highest order, and a well balanced mind; always cool 
and ready to baffle difficulties, whether small or great; 
for he has inexhaustible mental resources in an emer- 
gency, and can bring them to bear with wonderful power 
in the right direction and at the proper moment to insure 
success. 

" I consider him qualified for the highest stations 
in the gift of the Government; but his proverbial mo- 
desty will probably keep him back from reaching any of 



HIS CHARACTER. 397 

them. And he seems to have no ambition in that direc* 
tion." 

This is high praise, but strictly just. To this might 
be added — he exhibits a wonderful, as the French term 
it, '•''coup cVadV on a battle-field, taking it in with all its 
details at a glance. He possesses also great facility in 
handling troops, and with his control over them, and his 
indomitable energy, can accomplish what is in the power 
of man to perform. Patient, tireless, and undismayed 
by sudden adversity, and never disheartened by unex- 
pected obstacles, he seems to be one of the few men born 
to be never beaten. 

Oool and collected, no peril, however great, for a 
moment discomposes him, and in every emergency he 
falls back on himself with the calm confidence of power. 
His plans are always laid with mathematical precision, 
and carried out with the same scientific certainty. He 
is a man of method and thought, and not of dash and 
sudden excitement, and hence is not apt to perforin things 
in that striking, unexpected way which dazzles the public. 
In short, he forgets himself in the work before him, and 
consequently never does anything for mere effect. He is 
a rare man, and his fame rests on a solid foundation, that 
time will increase instead of diminish. 

At the close of the war he commanded the Depart- 
ment of Mississippi, with headquarters at Vicksburg. 
In 1865 lie resigned from the army and resumed the 
practice of the law in Brooklyn. In 1865 he was nom- 
inated Secretary of State of New York by the Democrats. 
In 1868 he was chosen presidential elector, and the same 
year was elected to Congress, and re-elected in 1870. He 
was elected pi'esident of the Board of City Works, Brook- 
lyn. Resigning, he was again elected to Congress in 1884. 



CHAPTER XVIII. 



MAJOR-GENERAL WILLIAM S. ROSECRANS. 



HIS BIRTH AND PARENTAGE — KEEPS A STORE — IS SENT TO WEST POINT- -IS 
MADE ASSISTANT PROFESSOR IN THE ACADEMY — HIS EARLY AND GREAT 
SERVICES AS ENGINEER — RESIGNS ON ACCOUNT OP ILL HEALTH — OPENS 
AN OFFICE IN CINCINNATI — IS EMPLOYED BY A COAL COMPANY IN VIR- 
GINIA — SETS UP A MANUFACTORY OP COAL OIL^NEARLY LOSES HIS LIFE— 
THE FIRST TO MAKE PURE OIL— INVENTS THE CIRCULAR WICK, AND MAKES 
IMPROVEMENTS IN LAMPS —BREAKING OUT OF THE WAR — HIS FIRST SER- 
VICES — MADE BRIGADIER-GENERAL, AND ORDERED TO WESTERN VIR- 
GINIA — RICH MOUNTAIN — CARNIFEX FERRY — DEFEATS LEE — HIS PLANS 
BROKEN UP — FREMONT PLACED OVER THE MOUNTAIN DEPARTMENT — IS 
SENT WEST — UNDER HALLECK — UNDER GRANT — BATTLE OF tUKA — BAT- 
TLE OF CORINTH— PLACED OVER THE ARMY OP THE CCJfBERLAND — 
BATTLE OF MURFREESBORO' — CAPTURES CHATTANOOGA —BATTLE OF 
CHICKAMAUGA — IS SUPERSEDED BY THOMAS — PLACED OVER THE MIS- 
SOURI DEPARTMENT— HIS CHARACTER. 

RosECRANs saw so little service under General Grant, 
that a sketch of him, as one of his generals, might not 
be indispensable, in completing the illustrious group of 
which the latter is the central figure. Still, during the 
short time he served under him, he won two battles for 
him — the last of which had an important bearing on his 
future career. 

William Stark Rosecrans was born in Kingston, 
Delaware county, Ohio, on the 6th of September, 1819. 
His ancestors were Dutch, as his name clearly indicates, 
and emigrated to New York, in the first settlement of 



PROFESSOR AT WEST POINT. 399 

the country, from Amsterdam. In the war of 1812, his 
father served as adjutant to a light horse company, under 
General Harrison. He was a prosperous farmer, and 
owned considerable property ; yet he sent his son, accord- 
ing to the custom at that time, to school only in winter, 
keeping him home to work on the farm during the sum- 
mer months. He owned a store, in which William some- 
times acted as book-keeper, and who, for a while, in 1837, 
was clerk in a clothing store. While here the latter applied 
for an appointment in the military academy at West Point, 
and through the influence of Judge Harper, member of 
Congress from the district, obtained it. He graduated in 
1842, and was made second lieutenant in the Engineer 
Corps, and ordered to Fortress Monroe. The next April, 
he was promoted to first lieutenant, and in the August 
following, received the appointment of assistant professor 
in the Engineering Department at West Point. The fol- 
lowing year, however, he was made Assistant Professor 
of Philosophy ; but filled the position only one year, 
when he was appointed First Assistant Professor of En- 
gineering, which position he held for two years — a part of 
the time acting also as post commissary and quarter- 
master. Thomas was a cadet at the same time, and the 
young men often talked of their future prospects together, 
and dreamed of military distinction in the years to come; 
but in their wildest imaginings never conjured up such a 
field as "Stone River," or " Chickamauga," where they 
fought side by side. 

In August, 1847, Rosecrans was put in charge of the 
fortifications at Newport, Rhode Island, and spent five 
years in completing its batteries, constructing a military 
wharf, &c. In 1852, he was directed to survey Taunton 
and New Bedford harbors, with a view to their improve- 



400 MAJOR-GENERAL WILLIAM S. ROSECRANS. 

ment, and in three weeks made 30,000 soundings. The 
next spring, being ordered to report to the Secretary of 
the Navy, he was detailed as constructing engineer at the 
Washington Navy Yard, and during the year performed 
an immense amount of work. He built saw mills, a ma- 
rine railway, remodelled the ordnance buildings, and sub- 
mitted plans for machine shops, and manufactories of 
various kinds. But while with his usual energy he was 
pushing on the various improvements ^\^ith which his in- 
ventive, restless mind teemed, his health gave out, and 
his physician told him he must have at least three months 
rest. He accordingly applied for leave of absence, but 
the engineer-in-chief told him that he could not be spared. 
He then sent in his resignation to Jeiferson Davis, who at 
the tin^e was Secretary of War, The latter remonstrated 
with him, and finally gave him tlie required leave of 
absence, telling him to wait till the end of that time be- 
fore pressing his resignation. But his health remaining 
feeble, he finally, in April, 1854, resigned, and removed 
to Cincinnati, where he opened an office, as an architect 
and consulting engineer. 

The next year, however, at the request of the agent, 
he took charge of the mining interests of a coal company 
on Coal River, in Kanawha county, Virginia. His scien- 
tific explorations developed resources hitherto unknoAvn, 
and new mines were discovered. In order to get the coal 
to the river, he proposed the plan of a canal which was 
adopted — and he was made "President of the Coal River 
Slack Water Navigation Company." Soon after, the 
manufacture of coal oil attracted public attention, and 
Rosecrans believing that a fortune could be realized from 
it, went into the business in Cincinnati. With two other 
partners, he built a large manufactory, capable of turnino 



A MANUFACTURER OF OIL. 401 

out five hundred gallons a da}. One of the partners 
professed to be skilled in the manufacture of the oil, 
but failing to make a good article, Rosecrans deter- 
mined to take hold of it himself For sixteen days 
he labored assiduously in the laboratory, and had 
about succeeded in his eiforts to produce a pure odor- 
less oil, when, by the combustion of some gas, he was 
terribly l)urned. He, however, extinguished the lire, 
and then \valked home a mile and a half, when he took 
to his bed where he lay nearly a year and a half, a 
great sufferer. He barely survived the severe shock his 
system received, and still carries the scars of his burns 
on his forehead. On his recovery, he again went to 
work, and soon produced a good article of oil, and be- 
lieves he was the first to obtain it. He also manufac- 
tured a new kind of soap, and invented the lamp with a 
round wick for burning coal oil, and also the one with 
short chimneys. 

He was still engaged in this business, pushing his way 
steadil}'- on to fortune, when the rebellion broke out. His 
services were at once sought in drilling the Home Guards 
of the city, and he took charge of those of the Fourteenth 
Ward, called the Marion Rifles. When the President's 
call for 75,000 men was issued he offered his services to 
Gov. Dennison of Ohio. Gen. McClellan requested him 
to lay out Camp Dennison, which he did. Afterwards, 
he was sent to Philadelphia to see about getting a supply 
of arms for the Ohio troops ; and from there proceeded 
to Washington to make arrangements for their clothing 
and pay. While here he applied for the appointment of 
Brigadier-General of Volunteers. Not receiving it, he 
returned to Cincinnati, where he was offered by the 
Governor the position of Chiet' Engineer of Ohio, with 



402 MAJOR-GENERAL AVILLIAM S. ROSECRANS. 

the rank of Colonel, to serve on the staff of McClellan. 
But the latter being appointed Major-General in the regu- 
lar army, he became Colonel of the Twenty-Third Ohio 
regiment and proceeded to Columbus, where he laid out 
several camps. 

In the meantime the appointment of Brigadier- General 
in the regular army reached him, with instructions to re- 
port to General McClellan, who immediately ordered him 
to Western Virginia. In July he fought and won the battle 
of Rich Mountain, with a force of one thousand seven 
hundred men, capturing two guiis and several pieces of 
artillery. The same night, in a pouring rain, he moved 
upon the enemy's camp, and captured it with over two hun- 
dred tents, eighty wagons and eleven hundred prisoners. 
McClellan now advanced to Cheat Mountain, when he 
was called to Washington to assume the duties of General- 
in-Chief 

The command in Western Virginia now devolved on 
Rosecrans. His three months' men soon after left him, 
and with his diminished force, he was compelled to act 
solely on the defensive, and hold the strong positions 
he had seized. But as soon as the new troops arrived, 
though raw and undisciplined, he moved forward, to at- 
tack Floyd, who he heard was advancing against .General 
Cox at Gauley. Pressing forward over terrible roads, in 
(irenching storms, he at length arrived within seventeen 
miles of Carnifex Ferry, where he heard that Floyd was 
strongly entrenched. He immediately ordered an ad- 
vance, and reached the rebel position at three o'clock in 
the afternoon, and boldly attacked it. The conflict raged 
fiercely till darkness put an end to it, when the army lay 
down to wait for the morning light to renew the assault. 
That night, however, Floyd evacuated the position, and 



DEFEATS LEE. 403 

crossing tlie river, destroyed the ferry-boat, thus cutting 
off all pursuit. 

Kosecrans now fell back twen ty-three miles, in order to 
be near his base of supplies. He had marched his men 
through storm and mud, over mountains and streams, half 
fed, and half clothed, with an energy and rapidity which at 
that time were considered marvellous; and he was looked 
upon as one of our most promising generals. 

Lee now took command of the rebel forces in Western 
Virginia, and formed a plan with Floyd to crush Rose- 
crans between them. But the latter s geological surveys 
in this country now stood him in good stead, and he suc- 
cessfully foiled their plans, and driving Floyd in confusion 
before him, brought to an inglorious termination Lee's 
first campaign in the service of the Southern Confeder- 
acy. 

Winter now coming on, active service in the field was 
impossible, still Rosecrans kept detachments constantly at 
work hunting down guerillas. Repairing to Washington 
to lay before McClelian a plan for future operations, he 
found that all his troops, with the exception of one thou- 
sand seven hundred men, were to be sent to General 
Lander, who was ordered to protect the Baltimore and 
Ohio Railroad. Notwithstanding he was thus stripped 
of his troops, he formed a plan for a spring campaign, 
when he found that politicians in Washington had caused 
the Mountain Depart.ment to be formed for Fremont 
Though displeased at this, and justly so, he continued 
to labor assiduously to carry out the great plan that had 
been adopted at Washington for crushing Ewell and 
Jackson in the Shenandoah Valley. But this falling 
through, he, on the 9th of May, reported in person to 
General Fremont, and at once proceeded to Washington, 

26 



404 MAJOR-GENERAL WILLIAM S. ROSECRANS. 

where he arrived on the 15th, having had quite enough 
of the Mountain Department. He was immediately 
ordered to report to Gei eral Halleck at Corinth, Missis- 
sippi, and leaving his staff, horses, etc., behind, hurried 
forward, reaching it in eight days. Halleck, in turn, 
ordered him to report to Pope, by whom he w^as 
placed in command of Jefferson C. Davis' division, just 
in from Pea Ridge. He held this position just four days, 
when he was assigned to the command of the right wing 
of the Army of the Mississippi, then closing in on 
Corinth. On the evacuation of this place, he was ordered 
to pursue the enemy, and pushed on to Booneville. The 
pursuit being abandoned, he returned to Camp Clear 
Creek, seven miles from Corinth. 

Pope now being called to take command of the forces 
in front of Washington, Rosecrans found himself at the 
head of the Army of the Mississippi, under Grant. 
Bragg, having gone to Chattanooga, whither Buell was 
moving his columns. Price and Van Dorn were left to 
take care of Grant, and soon after advanced and took 
possession of luka. Rosecrans at once proposed a plan 
to Grant for recapturing it, by which the former was to 
move directly on the [)lace while the latter marched to the 
rear and cut oft' the rebel retreat. Grant accepted it, and 
Rosecrans concentrated at Jacinto two divisions of in- 
fantry and artillery, and two regiments of cavalry, with 
which he started on the afternoon of the 19th of Septem- 
ber, and, marching about nineteen miles, arrived within 
less than two miles of luka. Price immediately 
pushed out a heavy force against him, and a tierce and 
sanguinary battle followed. Night at length closed the 
contest, and Rosecrans, who all the afternoon had been 
anxiouslv listeninir to hear the sound of Grant's f>uns, felt 



BATTLE OF CORINTH. 405 

•doubtftil as to the proper course to pursue. He deter- 
mined, however, weak as he was, to attack the enemy hi 
the morning — but at midnight, word was brought him that 
the rebels were in full retreat. He immediately started 
in pursuit, but failed to overtake the enemy, though he 
pressed him hotly for twenty-five miles. 

Referring to the lack of co-operation on the part of 
Grant, by which Price was enabled to get off, Rose- 
crans said, " The unexpected accident which alone pre- 
vented us from cutting otf the retreat, and capturing Price 
and his army, only shows how much success depends 
on him in whose hands are the accidents as well as the 
laws of life." He now fell back on Jacinto and Danville, 
and Sept. 26 was ordered to Corinth. Price, Van Dorn, 
and Lovell immediately concentrated their armies against 
it before the place could be reinforced by Grant. He 
watched the coming storm with a good deal of solicitude, 
for the forces gathering against him outnumbered his OAvn 
two to one — but he called in all his detachments, and 
began to strengthen his position. The old fortifications 
thrown up by Beauregard were too extensive for his little 
army, and he erected works within them. 

On the 3d of October, the enemy approached the 
place, and the next morning, at dawn, Posecrans, as he 
looked over the ramparts of his works, heard the roll of 
the drum and the pealing bugle in the dark forests be- 
yond. Skirmishing soon commenced, and occasionally 
a cannon-shot awoke the morning echoes, but still there 
was no sign of the enemy, for the dense forest shut them in. 
The assaulting columns were forming on the roads that 
ran through the woods, not more than half a mile 
away, and Posecrans ^vaited with intense interest to see 
them emerge from the foliage. 



406 MAJOR-GENERAL WILLIAM S. ROSECRANS. 

A little after nine o'clock, the suspense was ended, for 
those columns suddenly burst from the forest, and in 
splendid order and proud array, moved up the Bolivar 
road straight on the batteries. As the deep formations, 
fringed with glittering steel, reached the open ground, 
they slowly unfolded, like two expanding wings, and 
swooped down on Corinth. Price was on the left, and 
Van Dorn on the right, designing to attack simulta- 
neously — but the latter, meeting with obstructions, was 
delayed, so that the former first caught the fiiry of the 
storm. Moving up a turfy slope, the whole line was 
swept by our batteries, cutting terrible gaps through it 
— but it kept on unshaken till it came within range of 
the musketry, when the destruction became awful. Still, 
the unfaltering ranks pressed forward, and reached the 
crest of the hill, and drove the division of Davies back in 
confusion. Rosecrans, seeing the imminent danger, gal- 
loped amid the broken ranks, and rallied them in person. 
But the shouting, victorious rebels, iioav confident of 
victory, sprung eagerly forward, and swept headquarters 
like a storm, and soon began to send their shot into the 
square of the place. Fort Richardson, the ke}- of the posi- 
tion, was reached, and all seemed lost, when a sudden sheet 
of flame burst from its sides. As the smoke lifted, onh' the 
dead and dying were where the charging colunm had pressed. 
But those behind rushed in to fill their places, and leaped 
over the works with a demoniacal yell. At that critical 
moment, the Fifty-sixth Illinois, which had lain concealed 
in a ravine near by, suddenly rose, and pouring in one 
desolating volley, sprang forward, and cleared the fort, of 
the rebels at the point of the bayonet. Hamilton, the 
hero of luka, seeing the charge, cried " forward ! " The 
rebels had made their greatest effort, and yielding to this 



A BRAVE TEXAM. 407 

last charge, threw away their arms in despair, and broke 
for the woods. 

Van Dorn, on the left, now came up. A few minutes 
sooner, and his arrival might have turned the day agamsl 
Rosecrans. But now the prospect looked gloomy enough 
— still he came boldly on, breasting the storm that smote 
him as bravely as Price had dv':ne before, and a close and 
fearful conflict followed. With the bayonet, clubbed 
muskets, and Avhere those failed, with clenched fists, the 
maddened troops struggled and fell, while shouts, and 
yells, and curses rose in a deafening clamor from out the 
tossing, reeling mass. But though the rebels fought as 
they had not fought before, it was all in vain, and the 
whole army at last turned and fled. 

The battle lasted scarcely more than an hour and a 
half, and yet, in that brief space, two thousand of Rose- 
crans' army of twenty thousand, had fallen, while nearly 
six thousand of the enemy lay strewn and piled over the 
field and around the forts. The shout that rolled down our 
lines at the victory shook the field, and was repeated again 
and again, till the air of that autumn morning seemed an 
element of joy. In the last charge, Rogers, commanding 
a Texas regiment, strode at its head, shouting, amid the 
bursting shells, " forward ! forward ! " and seemed to bear 
a charmed life ; for, while men fell rapidly around him, he 
still stood up unhurt.. He at length reached the ditch, 
a revolver in one hand, and a flag in the other. Stand- 
ing erect a moment, he again shouted " forward," and 
with one bound cleared it, and gallantly ascending the 
slope of the works, planted his standard on the ramparts. 
The next instant he fell, banner in hand, into the ditch, a 
corpse. 

After the battle was over, our brave soldiers singled 



408 MAJOR-GENERAL WILLIAM S. ROSECRANS. 

out his body and gave it a grave by itself, smoothing it 
over tenderly, and marking its last resting place with a 
board. It was a touching testimonial of the brave to the 
brave. 

Rosecrans now rode alonij the lines, greeted with loud 
cheers. He told his troops, that although they had been 
marching for two days, passed two sleepless nights, and 
fought for two days more, he wanted them to fill their 
cartridge-boxes, haversacks and stomachs, and take an 
early sleep, and then press on after the enemy. Just 
then McPherson arrived mth a fresh brigade, sent by 
Grant to his aid, and was immediately started in pur- 
suit. 

Rosecrans now pressed the enemy day after day, in- 
flicting heavy loss on him, but could not force him into a 
decisive battle. The latter, however, was completely 
demoralized, and Rosecrans determined to follow him up 
until he was wholly destroyed, and fully believed that if 
Grant had not recalled him from the pursuit, he could 
have pushed on and taken Vicksburg, which afterwards 
cost us so much labor and so many lives. 

This was an important victory to Grant ; for if Corinth 
had fallen, his communications North would have been 
severed, and the very existence of his army threatened. 
On no one battle fought by any of his generals acting 
independently, did more important issues rest than on 
this. 

The victory lifted Rosecrans still higher in public 
estimation, and he was called the ''favored child of 
victory." 

In October he was placed over the Army of the 
Cumberland in the place of Buell, and repaired to Louis- 
ville. He afterwards made his headquarters at Nash- 



BATTLE OF MURFREESBORO. 409 

ville, and prepared for a decisive campaign against Bragg, 
who had taken position at Murfreesboro. 

On the 2Gth of December, in a pouring rain-storm, 
the army broke up its encampment and moved forward, 
and came at length upon the rebel army lying along the 
north bank of Stone river, its right resting on it where it 
took a short bend north — or perhaps the real right might 
be said to be across it, on an eminence where Breck- 
enridge's division was posted. E-osecrans' plan of 
battle was a very simple one. With his army drawn up 
in front of that of Bragg, he designed suddenly to swing 
his left over the river, and by an overwhelming assault, 
carry the heights on which Breckenridge was posted. 
This once accomplished, his batteries planted there would 
enfilade the whole rebel line of battle, and take the bat- 
teries in reverse. Betreat then would be unavoidable, and 
away from Murfreesboro and the railroad running south. 
This would enable Bosecrans to follow Bragg up with 
a fair prospect of capturing or dispersing the whole 
army. But the latter had planned a similar movement 
on him. Rosecrans' right was out, so to speak, in the 
air, and he resolved to crush this with one tremendous 
blow, and following up the victory, roll up our whole line 
of battle, and force the army into the Stone river. Car- 
rying out this plan, he suddenly fell on our extreme right, 
while the assaulting columns of Bosecrans were on their 
way to the rebel right. Bragg struck first, and our right, 
taken by surprise, was borne away as by a whirlwind. 
Bosecrans was standing near his tent, waiting to hear his 
guns open on the rebel flank, when far away to his right, 
there came a sound like the crackling of brush in the flames, 
and then the deep roar of cannon. Still, he was not anx- 
ious, it was doubtless McCook, he thought, diverting the 



410 MAJOR-GENERAL WILLIAM S. ROSECRANS. 

enemy's attention in order to give greater success to the 
movement on the left. But the din grew louder, and 
the incessant, ever-increasing crash of artillery at length 
sent a pang of anxious fear to his heart. Soon tidings 
came that the right wing of the army was broken to frag- 
ments. He did not believe it, when suddenly a crowd 
of fugitives burst through the neighboring thickets, wliile 
a staff officer dashed up, saying, that the right wing Avas 
broken, gone ! " To horse ! " shouted Rosecrans, and 
away he dashed into the vortex of battle. Horse and 
horseman fell beside him, but on through the deadly storm, 
leaping every obstacle that crossed his path, he at once 
pressed, determined to throw his life into the scale of 
battle. Ordering over a portion of his left wing on the 
double quick, massing batteries here, and rallying a broken 
line there, he moved like a fabled god over that wild, 
tumultuous field. His usually ruddy face was now pale 
as ashes, his lips were set firmly together, and his blue 
eye blazed with a dangerous fire. He had been out- 
manoeuvred, and half his army was in confused retreat 
before he knew the battle had begun, and now nothing 
but superhuman efforts could save him. He saw it all 
at a glance, but instead of being overwhelmed by the 
sudden disaster that had overtaken liim, rose to the full 
requirements of his condition. 

Sheridan's gallant resistance gave hini breathing time, 
and though the battle raged hour after hour with unpar- 
alleled fury, and his whole array w^as forced back before 
the terrific onsets of the rebel columns, till it stood at 
right angles to its position in the morning, and thougli a 
quarter of his artillery was gone, and nearly a third of 
his army with it, yet at night h's line of battle was firm 
and the enemy repulsed. 



CHATTANOOGA. 411 

It had been a fearful day — a terrible defeat ; and but 
for Rosecrans' personal courage, almost superhuman ef- 
forts, and rapid handling of his troops and skilful mass- 
ing of his artillery, would have been a complete over- 
throw. 

That night he took a survey of his position, consulted 
with his ofhcers, and then resolved to fight it out right 
there. He found, he said, that "he had ammunition 
enough for another battle," and though his losses in guns 
and men had been so heavy, he would try the issue with 
Bragg once more before he retreated. He, therefore, 
took up a new position during the night, which the 
enemy next day dared not assail. 

On the 2d of January the fight was renewed, and 
Rosecrans having at last got his left over the river, Bragg 
evacuated Murfreesboro. 

Victory at length was ours, though at a heavy sacri- 
fice; for out of 43,000 men with which he went into 
battle, 10,000, at least, had disappeared from the ranks. 

Rosecrans lay here till summer, and then advanced on 
Chattanooga. On arriving before the place, he found it 
too strong to be carried by direct assault, so he executed 
a skilful flank movement by crossing the Tennessee, below 
Lookout Mountain, and pushing his columns up the 
Lookout Valley. Bragg, finding himself completely out- 
manoeuvred, evacuated the place. Rosecrans, however, . 
was not content with its capture, he wanted Bragg's army, 
and so pushed on his divisions to cut off his line of retreat, 
until at length McCook, in advance, was some thirty or 
forty miles from the Tennessee River. But Bragg, who 
was on the other side of the mountain, this time outwit- 
ted his antagonist, for instead of retreating, he only fell 
back a little distance, and then wheeling about, marched 



412 MAJOR-GENERAL WILLIAM S. ROSECRANS. 

back on Chattanooga. Crittenden, alone, was opposed to 
him; the other divisions being over the mountains, scattered 
far apart, thinking only of intercepting his flight. As 
soon as Rosecrans was informed of this, he saw^ at once 
his danger, and strained every nerve to concentrates his 
divided forces, and get them over into the Chattanooga 
Valley, to join Crittenden. He succeeded ; but before 
his line of battle w^as completed, in fact, while march- 
ing by the flank to head off Bragg, the latter fell on him 
with a succession of terrible assaults. Night closed the 
contest ; when Rosecrans withdrew his right wing, resting 
it on Missionary Ridge, thus shortening his line of battle. 
Bragg, having been heavily reinforced in the meantime, 
in the morning renewed the conflict, striking, as l)efore, 
the indomitable Thomas on our left. The latter, not con- 
tent witli repelling the assault, attacked in turn, and drove 
tlie rebel line before liim for a mile and a half^ wlien he 
was called back to help the hard-pressed centre. 

While matters were in this position, Wood, in the 
centre, received that fatal order — to close well upon Rey- 
nolds and support him. But Brannan's division lay be- 
tween him and Reynolds, and to obey this order he had 
to fall back behind the latter, and pass beyond him. This 
left a fearful gap in our lines, which the enemy no sooner 
saw than he poured like a torrent into it, and striking 
rioiit and left, swuno- back the two extremities like tw^o 
doors on their hinges, and with such fury as to shatter 
them into fragments. It was a sudden ^vhirlwind, a Inu'- 
ricane, carrying aw^ay with resistless fury the centre and 
right of the army, and causing a scene of terror and con- 
tusion indescribable. A struggling multitude of men 
and horses, and teams ; a cursing, shouting crowd, block- 
ing up the roads; the roar of cannon and the yells of the 



CHICKAMAUGA. 413 



victorious enemy, made up one of the most terrific spec- 
tacles of the war. Rosecrans' headquarters and him- 
self were borne away in the flood, and he did not halt 
till he reached Chattanooga. Thomas, with seven out 
of ten divisions of the army, and orders both verbal and 
\vritten, saved the army, and by his splendid courage 
and unparalleled fighting earned the well-deserved title 
of the " Rock of Chickamauga." 

There is a great difference of opinion about the order 
to Wood, and perhaps always will be. The truth is,* 
when Thomas sent Major Kellogg, to ask for Bronson, 
Rosecrans sent him with orders to Bronson to obey 
Thomas, and Wood was to take Bronson's place in the 
line on the right of Reynolds. Meantime, his front 
being attacked, and in Bronson's absence reporting the 
fact, Reynolds lield the command until Bronson's return 
with Thomas' order not to leave his place. It seems 
very strange, liowever, that Wood should have made 
the extraordinary movement he did without being un- 
mistakably certain respecting the order. It is improb- 
able that Rosecrans, with a full knowledge of the state 
of things, would have given such an order until Wood's 
place was filled by another division. At all events, the 
results were disastrous, and but for Thomas would 
have been overwhelmingly so. 

The fighting was in the woods and our forces out- 
num]:)ered ; it was decided advisable to fall back to 
Rossville Grap for supplies and ammunition. This done, 
the unconquered army offered battle in its new posi- 
tion, September 21, 1863. The enemy declining the in- 
vitation, the army retired the following night, unmo- 
lested, to its new lines near Chattanooga. 

* Gen. Eosecrans' statement in correcting proof of his Biography, July, 1890. 



414 MAJOR- GENERAL WILLIAM S. ROSECRANS. 

Rosecrans falling back to Chattanooga, the objective 
of the campaign, Bragg followed him, enclosing him 
from the river above to Lookout Mountain on the river 
below, intercepting his communications, and well-nigli 
starvino- his army. The Department at length relieved . 
him from command, and put Thomas in his place, who, 
in turn, gave way to Grant. 

This ended Rosecrans' military services in that 
quarter. Shortly after he was put over the Depart- 
ment of Missouri, defeating Price's invasion of the State. 
"From under the surveillance of the war office suc- 
cessively appeared the expression of pitying regret that 
he had become addicted to the excessive use of opium 
and intoxicants and subject to disabling mental disease. 
But those under his command and who knew him in 
private, laugh sucli calumnies to scorn and say that his 
public and private life are without spot." His very able 
and popular civil administration as Department Com- 
mander excited military and political jealousies which 
conspired to have him relieved from the command as 
soon as all danger was over. 

He felt that there was a determination on the part 
of a few to crush him, and reckoned Halleck as not 
amona: the least of his enemies. He was too honest, 
straightforward and outspoken for Halleck, and too 
elevMed in tone and purpose to suit the Sec't'y of War. 
In 1867 he resigned from the army and the same 
year was offered the Democratic nomination for Gover- 
nor of California, but declined it. The next year he 
was sent as Minister to Mexico, but returned the fol- 
lowing year. He was offered the same year the nomi- 
nation of Governor of Ohio by the Democratic party, 
but he declined, and resumed the practice of engineer- 



HIS CHARACTER. 415 

ing, and at the request of President Juarez engaged in 
the construction of railroads in Mexico. 

In 1876 lie declined the nomination for Congress 
from Nevada. He was elected member of Congress 
from California in 1881, and served till the fourth of 
Mai'ch, 1885. In this year he was appointed Register 
of the U. S. Treasury. He was honored with the de- 
gree of LL.D. by the University of Georgetown, D. C. 

HIS CHARACTER. 

As a military leader, Rosecrans possessed high quali- 
ties, though not wanting in defects. A man of quick 
and intense feelings, engrossed with his own plans, 
he seemed to be wanting in a proper appreciation 
of character in others — that sagacity which almost, by 
intuition, discerns the proper instruments for the work 
to be done. After the battle of Chickamauga, there was 
an attempt to impugn his courage, many asserting that 
his panic was equal to that of the rank and file, and that 
he fled in consternation to Chattanooga. This is absurd. 
He could BO more stem the tori'ent that struck him than 
one could stop a bursting billow with a feather. His 
courage was indisputable. His fault, if any, was that he 
exposed his person too recklessly in battle. No man who 
saw him ride thi'ough the rain of death at Murfreesboro 
— steady while all was tumult around him, would ever 
accuse him of lack of coolness or courage. He was a 
strong man amid the surging tide of battle, and riding 
along its fiery edge, was the very impersonation of a 
hero. He is a pure and upright man, scorning mean- 
ness and trickery, and too outspoken in his feelings for 
his own advantage. A true patriot, a strong man on 
the battle-field, he won an enduring fame, and "de- 
serves well of his country." 



CHAPTER XIX. 

MAJOR-GENERAL JOHN SEDGEWICK. 

HIS BIRTH AND NATIVITY — A FARMER'S BOY — ENTERS WEST POINT — SENT TO 

FLORIDA — STATIONED AT BUFFALO AT NEW YORK HIS GALLANTRY AND 

PROMOTION IN THE MEXICAN WAR — MADE BRIGADIER-GENERAL OF VOL- 
UNTEERS — SUPERSEDES STONE — HEROIC ACTION AT FAIR OAKS — HIS SER- 
VICES ON THE PENINSULA — IS WOUNDED AT ANTIETAM — CAPTURES THE 
HEIGHTS OF FREDERICKSBURG— MARCH OF HIS CORPS TO GETTYSBURG — 
COMMANDS THE ARMY OF THE POTOMAC — LETTER TO GENERAL FRENCH — 
COMMANDS THE RIGHT WING OF GRANT'S ARMY — BATTLE OF THE WILDER- 
NESS — KILLED AT SPOTTSYLVANIA — HIS CHARACTER. 

Like Thomas and McPherson, General Sedgewick 
seemed to have no enemies, and his elevation to rank and 
position created apparently no feelings of rivalry and 
jealousy. Such characters are rare in the world, and it 
is hard to write about them without incurring the charge 
of indiscriminate eulogy. 

John Sedgewick was born in Cornwall, Conn., on the 
13th of Se})tember, 1813, and hence saw the light when 
the country was resounding with arms. He was the son 
of Benjamin Sedgewick, and grandson of General John 
Sedgewick, a major in the revolutionary army. He had 
one brother and three sisters, of whom the brother and 
one sister survive him, and still live in Cornwall. En- 
joying the advantages of a good common education, he 
grew up like any farmer lad, working on the old home- 



HIS BOYHOOD. 417 

stead, which had been in the family for generations. One 
of his ancestors was a general under Cromwell, so that 
he came honestly by his military tendencies. The 
family traditions evidently made an early impression on 
his mind, for even when a little boy, he would invariably 
reply, on being asked his name, "General John Sedge- 
wick." This taste for the military profession never for- 
sook him during the years he toiled on his father's farm, 
and he was often more busy with dreams of military 
glory when following the plow, or driving the team, than 
with the work before him. Yielding to the military bent 
of his mind, his friends obtained the appointment of ca- 
det at West Point lor him, and he entered that school at 
eighteen years of age. As a boy, he was distinguished 
for his influence over the minds of others ; so that when lie 
proposed to have anything done, no one seemed to doubt 
its propriety, or the certainty of its being accomplished. 
He carried this peculiarity with him to West Point, and 
had the unbounded confidence and respect of his class. 
He graduated in 1837, and was appointed second lieu- 
tenant in the Second Artillery, and sent to Florida, 
where he remained two years. Promoted to first lieu- 
tenant, he afterwards was stationed at Buffalo, and re- 
mained there during the excitement produced by the 
seizure of the steamer Caroline by the Canadian govern- 
ment. Subsequently he Avas removed to Fort Hamilton, 
and Governor's Island, New York. 

His regiment formed a part of General Scott's army 
in the invasion of Mexico, and for his bravery at Contre- 
ras and Churubusco, he was brevetted captain. At Mo- 
lino del Rey and Chapultepec, and in the attack on the 
San Cosmo gate of the city, he led his company with a 
daring and skill that won for him the higjiest praise. 



418 MAJOR-GENERAL JOHN SEDGEWICK. 

His conduct at Chapultepec was brought especially to the 
notice of the Government, and he was brevetted major. 
In 1849, he received his commission as captain, and in 
1855, that of major in the First Cavalry. 

On the breaking out of the war, in the spring of 1861, 
he was made colonel of the Fourth Cavalry, and in Au- 
gust, after the battle of Bull Run, brigadier-general of 
volunteers in the Army of the Potomac. When Stone 
was arrested after the disastrous battle of Ball's Bluff, he 
was appointed in his place. 

In the advance from Yorktown, Sedgewick's di\dsion 
accompanied Franklin to West Point, and was the first 
to land and engage the enemy there. During the Chick- 
ahominy campaign, he commanded a division in Sum- 
ner's corps (the Second). When the enemy, taking ad- 
vantage of the sudden flood in the river, which divided 
our forces, came down on Casey's division and crushed 
it, thus opening the battle of Fair Oaks, McClellan sent 
an urgent despatch to Sumner to cross over his corps to 
the rescue. Sedgewick, the " always ready," as General 
Scott termed him, was at once ordered forward with his 
division. But, as he approached the bridge by which he 
was to cross, an appalling sight met his gaze — a broad 
stream, or sea, swept fiercely down, with no sign of a 
bridge, save a narrow strip of timber, that, on a level with 
the water, lay midway in the flood, as though each end was 
anchored there ; leaving the structure to float on the tide. 
That single dark line showed where the main channel was, 
though an even surface of water spread between the firm 
land and the end nearest him, while from the farthest end 
the level water stretched inland for a quarter of a mile. 
Sedgewick looked at the roarins: flood in his calm, 
thoughtful way, and comprehended in that glance the 



CROSSmG THE CHICKAHOMINY. 419 

full danger of attempting to get his columns and artillery 
over. The angry river swept by with a deep, rushing 
sound, and the frail structure far out in the centre sway- 
ed and swung to the mighty current ; toward which he 
must feel his way beneath the water, and then take his 
chances of having it give way under the weight of his 
columns, and precipitate all into the torrent below. But 
beyond, the rapid, heavy explosions of artillery, and the 
clouds of smoke, steadily advancing toward the river, 
told him that help must reach our forces struggling there 
against overwhelming odds, at all hazards, and "For- 
ward" broke from his lips. The head of the column 
plunged boldly into the water, and with its eye fixed 
steadily on the distant bridge, pressed swiftly forward. 
The artillery carriages submerged nearly to the guns, 
floundered on in advance, and at last succeeded in 
reaching it. Almost lifted from its anchorage by 
the swollen stream, it rocked and trembled under the 
weight, but still retained its place. The infantry waded 
after, and the close-packed line of steel moved gleaming 
and swift above the gleaming water. 

Reaching the farther end, they again entered the water 
and feeling their course along the submerged log- way be- 
neath, pushed for the distant land. In the meantime 
Sedgewick and his staff dashed through to the front. 
But when the land was reached, it was found to be a 
cj[uagmire, into which the artillery carriages sank up to 
their axles, and refused to go forward. Unhitching the 
teams from some of the o-uns and doubling; them on 
others, the drivers lashed their horses to their utmost 
strength, yet it was with tlie utmost difficulty a single 
battery could be got to the front. 

Sedgewick had hardly formed his line of battle, when 

21 



420 MAJOR-GENERAL JOHN SEDGEWICK. 

the enemy came down on him in a desperate charge. 
Hurled back, he again and again advanced, but each 
time was repulsed, as McClellan said, "With great loss 
by the steady fire of the infantry and the splendid prac- 
tice of the battery." 

The rest of Sumner's corps having, in the meantime, 
come up, the rebels were checked at all points, but the 
dead lay thickest in front of Sedgewick's division. 

Night now came on, and the battle for the day was 
over. It had been a frightful Sabbath, and the miry, 
trampled earth was covered with the wreck of the fight — 
dead horses and disabled cannon and long lines of the 
dead lay everywhere, presenting a ghastly spectacle. 

The next morning at day-dawn, Sedgewick was in the 
saddle, and quickly forming his line of battle, side by 
side with Richardson, closed fiercely on the foe, and 
pressed him back step by step, till beaten at all points, he 
at length took refuge behind his works, in fi-ont of Rich- 
mond. 

Some idea may be got of the perilous nature of the 
crossing which Sedgewick made, by the following state- 
ment of McClellan. Aftei* the battle was over he attempt- 
ed to get back to Sumner's headquarters by that bridge, 
but, he says, " I found the approach from the right bank 
for some four hundred yards submerged to the depth of 
several feet, and on reaching the place where the bridge 
had been, I found a great part of it carried away, so that 
i could not get my horse over, and was obliged to send 
him to Bottom's Bridge, six miles below, as the onl}' 
practicable crossing.'' 

In the retreat to James River, Sedgewick maintained 
his old reno-svn at Allen's Farm, Savage's Station and 
Glendale. In the battle at the foi-mer place, he particu- 



BATTLE OF SAVAGES STATION. 421 

larly distinguished himself. At daylight on the morning 
of the battle, which was fought to keep back the enemy 
for one day, till the trains and leading columns could 
cross White Oak Swamp, Sumner, in command of his own 
and Heintzelman's and Franklin's corps, stood drawn up 
in line of battle, in no place more than three-quarters of 
a mile from the enemy, while in front of Sedgewick's line, 
the hostile ranks were not more than six hundred yards 
distant. But column after column was skilfully retired 
to the rear till a mile had been traversed. 

While the enemy swarmed through the abandoned 
camp which had been set on tire, Sumner, destroying 
everything he could not carry, fell back to Savage's Sta- 
tion. Sedgewick, who, for some days, had been too 
sick to keep the saddle, and whose proper place was in the 
hospital, still rode at the head of his troops. Throwing 
off, by a strong effort of the will, his extreme lassitude, 
he fought like a lion here. Said one who saw him next 
morning : " Sedgewick, who had been sick for days, 
stemmed the torrent grimly. His tirst words were, ' B., 
that was Burns' fight. He showed himself a splendid 
soldier. Let the world know his merits. He deserves 
all you can say.' Sedgewick seldom praises men. But 
he is a gallant soldier himself, and he appreciates merit. I 
found General Burns stretched under a lofty pine, and his 
warriors were slumbering around him painfull)-. His 
eyes were hollow and blood-shot, his handsome features 
pale and thin, his beard and his clothing were clotted witli 
blood, his face was bandaged, concealing a ragged and 
painful wound in his lower jaw. His voice was husky 
from his exhortations and battle-cries, and tremulous with 
emotion ; when, grasping my hand, he said, with exquisite 
pathosj 'My friend, many of mj^poor fellows lie in those 



422 MAJOR-GENERAL JOHN SEDGEWlo'K. 

forests. It is terrible to leave them there ! ' " During the 
battle Sedgewick was covered with dust by the explosion 
of a shell, but fortunately escaped injury. At Glendale 
he repulsed a furious charge of the enemy and held his 
position, and at Malvern Hill won imperishable renown 
with the other great commanders that there broke the 
rebel army into fragments. 

He afterwards took part in the disastrous campaigii 
of Pope. 

ANTIETAM. 

At Antietam Sedgewick's division was the first ol 
Sumner's corps that came to the relief of Hooker. Ar 
riving on the field as the latter was borne Avounded 
to the rear, he marched steadily forward in three columns 
and reached the position assigned him just in time to re- 
ceive the last order of Hooker for the whole line to ad- 
vance. Under a terrible fire of musketry and artillery 
he repeated the order, " Forward," and moving swiftly 
through a piece of woods in his front, emerged into the 
corn-field which had been the scene of a desperate struggle 
all the morning, and deploying in line of battle, advanced 
boldly into the enemy's fire. With his quick eye, he saw 
he was making a dangerous movement, for there was a 
large space between him and the nearest supporting 
di\dsion, oftering a tempting opportunity to the enemy to 
outflank him. Still his orders were to advance, and he did 
so, but at the same time directed the Thirty-Fourth New 
York regiment to move by the left, flank, and, if possible, 
protect this ugly gap. But the terrible fire under which 
this manoeuvre was executed was too much for its nerve, 
and it broke and fled, ^he rebels seeing their advantage, 



WOUNDED AT ANTIETAM. 423 

i-omediately charged forward into the opening. Crawford, 
on the right, gave way, and his troops pouring through 
Sedgewick's advance brigade, threw it into disorder and it 
fell back on the second and third lines. Sedgewick's 
stout heart throbbed painfully at the sight; his calm, 
quiet demeanor fled, and he galloped, all on fire, amid the 
bi'oken ranks to steady them. The shot fell like hail 
around him, yet he rode through it apparently uncon- 
scious of danger. A bullet pierced his leg, yet he gave no 
heed to the wound. Pale and bleeding, he spurred in 
front of his shattered lines vainly trying to reform them. 
Another bullet pierced his wrist, but he still clung to the 
saddle and still strove desperately to reform his broken 
columns. But the tire rained upon him was too awful, 
and, though the troops which he fondly hoped would 
never falter while his eye was upon them, now and then 
struggled manfully to bear up, yet the head of each forma- 
tion melted away before it was completed. For an hour, 
though faint with the loss of blood, he continued to make 
superhuman efforts to arrest the disaster, but a last bullet 
through his shoulder was too much for even his iron 
frame and will to bear up against, and he was borne faint- 
ing from the field. His adjutant-general and relative. 
Major William Sedgewick, gallantly seconded his efforts, 
and was shot through the body, and, after days of linger- 
ing illness, died, and was carried back to rest amid his 
family in the quiet valley of Stockbridge. 

General Sedoewick now returned home to his farm in 
Cornwall, to recruit his shattered health, and recover 
from his wounds. As soon as he was able to take the 
field again, he returned to the army, and when Hooker 
advanced over the Rappahannock to give Lee battle at 
Chancellorsville, was placed over the left wing, composed 



4r24 MAJOR-GENERAL JOHN SEDGEWICK. 

of twent}^ or thirty thousand men, and directed to cross 
the river below, at Fredericksburg, and storm the heights 
before which Burnside had been repulsed. He thought, 
and justly, that Lee would leave a comparatively weak 
force there, as he would need all his troops to meet him 
at Chancellorsville. 

Crossing a part of his force some two miles below the 
city without opposition, SedgeAvick marched up to it, 
while the engineers threw pontoons across the river di- 
rectly opj)osite, by which the balance effected a passage. 
The first object was to take the earthworks which lined a 
bluff, about a third of a mile from the city, where his old 
commander Sumner suffered so severely in the attempt 
of Burnside to carry the heights. Beneath this bluff' 
Avas the famous stone wall that also figured conspicu- 
ously in that disastrous battle, between which and 
the city stretched a plain that must be crossed under a 
heavy fire, before either it or the earthworks could be 
stormed. 

Under cover of the night, Sedgewick got his divisions 
well up, and on Sunday morning the order to advance 
v/as given. A heavy artillery fire was opened on the en- 
emy, and then Newton s division charged over the plain, 
and reached the stone wall, but was compelled to fall 
back. The rebels rained shot and shell from the heights, 
but our artillery replied ; and, under cover of its fire, the 
infantry advanced, and for six hours, or till eleven o'clock, 
the battle raged withou^ cessation. Sedgewick now de- 
termined to storm the heights Avith the " Light Brigade." 
The latter, under coA^er of the hill, and some abandoned 
sarthAvorths, moved along until it came directly in front of 
the most formidable position, knoAvn as the " slaughter pen,' 
from the havoc made Avith our troops there a few months 



CAPTURE OF FREDERICKSBURG HEIGHTS. 425 

before. Here, throwing aside their knapsacks and all 
clothing that could impede their movements, the men lay 
down till the order "forward" should be sounded. Sup- 
porting regiments were brought up, and at half-past eleven 
the brigade rose to its feet, and, while the town and hills 
around were lined with spectators, waiting to see it swept 
from the earth, with a loud and ringing cheer, bounded 
forward. On the double quick, like the shadow of a fly- 
ing cloud, it crossed the plain for a quarter of a mile to 
the stone wall, under a storm of shot and shell; then 
over the wall with another shout the brave fellows dash- 
ed, and swarming up the green sides of the bluflE, rushed 
over the embrasures of the guns, and scattered the rebels 
in wild confusion. Just as the clock in Fredericksburg 
slowly struck the hour of twelve, the regimental colors 
were flung out over the ramparts, and the famed heights 
of Fredericksburg were won. Sedgewick watched the 
assault with the liveliest emotion, and a smile such as he- 
roes wear wreathed his face as he heard the cheers of 
victory ring down from the summit, to be echoed back by 
the watching, excited army below. 

Two whole regiments were taken prisoners in thi? 
gallant charge, with the famous Washington artillerj 
that Lee complimented so highly in the attack by Burn 
side. 

Sedgewick was now in a position to cooperate with 
Hooker, and had the latter been equally successful, Lee's 
army would, in all probability, have been annihilated. 
Leaving a force to keep the heights, he at once moved out 
on the plank road in the direction of Chancellorsville. But 
Lee had beaten Hooker, and now sent a strong force to re- 
take the captured works, so that Sedgewick liad gone scarcely 
four miles, when he met the enemy. In the meantime, ano- 



426 MAJOR-GENERAL JOHN SEDGE WICK. 

ther force had passed between him and Gibbon, who had 
been left to hold the heights. It was evident that matters 
had gone wrong with Hooker, or such an overwhelming 
force as now menaced him could never have been spared 
from the field of battle. 

This was on Monday morning, and Sedgewick soon 
found himself pressed in front and flank, but he handled 
his troops so skilfully that, for a long time, he kept the 
enemy at bay, and at length, by a vigorous charge, drove 
him from the field. But he saw at once that, to save his 
army, or to reach Hooker at all, he must recross the river 
and march up the other side to the United States Ford. 
So, at midnight, the movement commenced, and as silentl}^ 
as possible he marched back toward the bridge. The 
enemy, however, was on the alert, and expecting this, had 
planted batteries that commanded the bridge. These at 
once opened, and shot and shell went hissing and blazing 
through the gloom. The column moved swiftly and 
steadily forward, and though now and then a shot struck 
it, making an ugly rent, and stretching many a poor fel- 
low in death ; and though the water was sent in spray 
over the bridge, it fortunately was not broken, and the 
opposite bank was reached in safety. A single shell ex- 
ploding at the right time and place, would have imperilled 
the whole army. 

Gibbon was also forced from the works on the 
heights, after a sharp fight, and recrossed the river to 
Falmouth. 

Hooker attempted to cast blame on Sedgewick, for not 
co-operating with him after he had taken Fredericksburg 
heights, expressing the belief that if he had, the final re- 
sult might have been different : but facts do not sustain 
his opinion. Sedgewick's co-operation was not based on 



A LONG MARCH. 427 

Hooker's defeat, but on his success. Each was to do his 
own part, and if both were successful, Lee's army would, 
in all probability, be ruined ; but the failure of either 
could make it no better than a drawn battle. 

In the invasion of Maryland and Pennsylvania by 
Lee, that followed, Sedgewick commanded the Sixth 
Corps of the Army of the Potomac, under Hooker, and 
afterwards, under Meade. When the latter found that a 
battle must be fought at Gettysburg, he at once sent otl' 
swift riders to the different corps, to concentrate there 
with all speed. The despatch found General Sedgewick 
just gone into camp, after a long day's march. Making 
a few hasty enquiries, he at once comprehended the entire 
situation, and rousing up his tired soldiers at nine o'clock 
at night, put his columns in motion. It was a terrible 
march that hot July night, after a toilsome day, for they 
were kept at the quick marching step, except at short in- 
tervals of rest, all night long. ^ A brief halt for breakfast, 
and again they were in motion. Soon the deep heavy vibra- 
tions from the far-off explosions of artillery, told him 
that the Army of the Potomac had closed with the enemy. 
That forenoon was one of intense excitement to him. A 
heavy battle was raging in the distance, and he was not 
there to bear a soldier's part in it, besides, the absence 
of his corps might be the turning weight in the scale. 
Toward noon, he knew by the firing that he was fast ap- 
proaching the battle-field, and he urged his weary, foot- 
sore, staggering army to greater speed. At length, at 
two o'clock — having marched thirty miles since nine the 
evening before — the heads of his columns were seen com- 
ing up the road. It was an astonishing march ; and 
shows with what implicit faith Meade could rely on his 
doing all that man can do. His exhausted corps was ii; 



428 MAJOR-GENERAL JOHN SEDGEWICK. 

no condition to go into the tight, and Meade held it in ro- 
serve. Yet, he was so hard pressed at times, that he 
again and again called on it, and Sedgewick sent forward 
brigade after brigade, just in time to arrest the onsets of 
the enemy. 

The morning after the battle was over, and it was 
found that Lee had retreated, Sedgewick was sent in 
pursuit. He pressed the retiring columns till he came to 
Fairfield Pass, where he halted, and reported to General 
Meade, that a small force at that place could keep at bay 
one of vastly superior numbers. This report induced 
Meade to abandon the direct pursuit, and follow the rebel 
army, east of the Cumberland mountains, and try to bring 
him to bay before he could cross the Potomac. 

Afterwards, when Meade resolved to cross the Rappa- 
hannock, Sedgewick was conspicuous for his skill and 
bravery, capturing guns, prisoners, &c., at Rappahannock 
Ford. 

While the army was in winter quarters that season, 
Meade was taken sick, and went to Philadelphia, to re- 
cruit his health, leaving Sedgewick in command of the 
Army of the Potomac. General French having been 
charged, by a correspondent of the New York Tribune^ 
with being drunk in a battle the autumn previous, 
Sedgewick, who was also in the engagement, indignant at 
the slander, addressed a letter to the former, which was 
published, and is about the only thing of his published 
during the war. He never appeared in print over his 
own signature, and made no public speeches. But 
this slander of a brother officer so touched his sense 
of honor, that he broke through his habitual silence, 
and by his voluntary testimony, nailed the falsehood 
forever. 



A NOBLE LEI PER. 429 

This is the letter : 

HEADftUABTEBS, SiXTH ArMT COEPS, ) 

Brandy Station, Jan. 12, 1864. ( 
Mt Dear Geneeal : 

I have seeu in the columns of the New York Trihuve, an article in rela- 
tion to the operations in the late advance to Mine Eun which is grossly 
unjust, not only to you, but to the general commanding the Array of the 
Potomac. I do not recall the exact terms of the article in question, but it 
charged in substance, that you were too much under the influence of liquor 
during the battle of Locust Grove, to understand the position of attairs ; and 
it purported to be based on a conversation had w^ith Major-General Meade. 
While I am confident that no such conversation could have occurred, I 
nevertheless feel bound to place in your possession my emjahatic testimony 
as to the utter falsity of the charge. I had ample opportunities of observing 
you during that engagement. I had been directed to support your advance, 
and joined you in person at the commencement of the action, and was with 
you for some time after its close. During all this time I saw nothing in 
your manner, or management of affairs, to give ground for the suspicion 
that you were in the slightest degree under the influence of liquor. On the 
contrary, the dispositions made by you, of your own troops, and of such of 
mine as were placed at your disposal, and your own personal bearing during 
the action, were such as to enable me to speak with absolute certainty on 
the accusation to which I have referred, and to pronounce it wantonly false 
in every particular. 

I am, very truly, 

JOHN SEDGEWIOK, Major-General. 

Major-General French, Commanding Third Corps. 

This set that charge to rest, for the single testimony 
of John Sedgewick would outweigh throughout the 
array, the statement of every correspondent in the land. 
A thorough gentleman as well as soldier, his word was 
never doubted. 

When Grant commenced his great campaign against 
Richmond the following May, Sedgewick still com- 
manded the Sixth Corps, constituting the right wing. 
The mighty army moved upon the Rapidan, crossing in 
two places without opposition — Warren and Hancock at 
Ely''s, and Sedgewick at Germania Fords, 

Lee's plan was to fall on these several portions before 



430 MAJOR-GENERAL JOHN SEDGEWICK, 

they could be concentrated on the farther side, and his 
first grand attack was on Sedgewick, who crossed last, 
and lay near the river. He came on with tremendous 
force, and a terrific fight followed, which was a tit open- 
ing to the fearful final struggle of the rebellion. Sedgewick's 
corps had been trained for just such work as this, and it 
met and hurled back the mighty columns of the enemy as 
the shore heaves back the billows. The fighting was kept 
up till nine o'clock at night, when the weary troops rested 
on their arms. The next morning the army ^\"ds in line 
of battle, and Lee advanced with his entire force against 
it. On the right, A. P. Hill came on with, the shout of 
victory, but was met and steadily hurled back by Sedge- 
wick. 

Bafifled at every point, Lee was finall}^ compelled tc 
retreat, and marched rapidly for Spottsylvania Court 
House. It was here that Sedgewick fell. He rode out 
to superintend the mounting of some cannon, and though 
there was no skirmishing at the time, the sharpshooters 
were busy, and every noAV and then the sharp ''whist^'' 
or ringing sound of a bullet passing near, made the can- 
noniers wince and dodge. One near liim ducking as a 
bullet swept by, Sedgewick laughed at him, saying, 
"Pooh, man, you can't hit an elephant at that distance." 
The next moment, a ball struck him in the eye, passing 
directly into his brain. The blood gushed from his 
nostrils; "he smiled serenely, and fell dead in the arms 
of his assistant adjutant-general." He fell as he would 
like to have fallen, not wounded and mangled, but sud- 
denly, and on the field. With him departed the might 
of more than ten thousand men ; and Grant felt that one 
of his strongest props had given way, and mourned his 
death sincerely. The arrival of his body in Washington 



HIS CHARACTER. 431 

tilled the city with sadness, for not only had a strong 
man fallen, but one universally beloved. 

His body was carried to his old boyhood's home, 
where the name had been a household word for a century, 
and he was laid to rest in the sweet spring time, amid 
the fields where he had roamed in childhood. The rural 
inhabitants gathered from far and near, till six hun- 
dred wagons crowded around the old homestead. With 
tears and prayers they laid him in his grave, murmuring 
mournfully : 

" He sleeps his last sleep, he has fought his last battle, 
No sound can awake him to glory again." 

Said one Avho knew him for years : "A nobler and more 
generous man never lived — a truer patriot and more per 
feet soldier ; devoted to his profession, most at home in 
the field, conversant with men, and controlling them with 
a surplus of moral force, strict yet popular, brave to a 
fault, he is an immense loss to the army. Let the country 
do Sedgewick's memory honor, for no nobler son has laid 
down his life for her." 

General SedgeAvick was a man of rare character. In 
the field, his judgment was clear, cool, and correct ; in the 
high tide of battle, he was a rock, that nothing could unseat. 
Not seeking advancement, he arose, like McPherson and 
Thomas, by his merits alone. Every commander of 
the Army of the Potomac leaned heavily upon him, 
showing that it contained no greater division and corps 
leader. In this position he was always kept, though he 
was eminently qualified for a separate command. His 
mind was cast in a large mould, and he was capable of 
great combinations, while his thoroughly soldierly qualities 



432 • MAJOR-GENERAL JOHN SEDGEWICK. 

prevented him from trying any rash experiments. II" he 
had any fault, he was too brave for a leader, for he did 
not hesitate to expose himself like a common soldier- 
He was a man of few words ; yet, the few he did utter, 
went farther than many spoken by others. Like Thomas, 
he made no harangues to his troops, yet his quiet appro- 
bation was worth more to them than the highest eulogies 
from any other source. He had the high sense of honor 
of an ancient knight, and so unsullied did he maintain it, 
that no slander of enemies or rivals ever assailed it. In 
an arm}' that passed through such strange vicissitudes, 
and suffered such terrible misfortunes, that scarcely a 
leading general in it can be named that at one time or 
another was not subject to censure, he stood unassailed ; 
so that men ceased to feel any anxiety respecting results 
in that part of the field where SedgeAvick commanded. 
There was a magnetic power in his presence, inviting, 
nay, compelling confidence. Though a strict disciplin- 
arian, he nevertheless was dearly loved by his soldiers, 
and as soldiers always do, they shoAved it by giving him a 
familiar appellation, and he was known throughout the 
corps as ^'' Uncle John.'''' 

In personal appearance, he was about the medium 
height, with dark hair, a dark, calm, almost solemn eye, 
indicating great repose of character, and great reserve 
power. Simple in his habits, and a soldier in his tastes, 
he preferred to have his headquarters in his tent, rather 
than in a house. We never shall forget the last time we 
saw him in his tent, pitched in the woods of Virginia, 
with no appearance of his rank about him. Sitting with 
his young adjutant-general, who fell at Antietam, he con- 
versed with all the simplicity he would have done had he 
been a farmer in his old homestead. 



HIS CHARACTER. 433 

A great general, a true patriot, and a noble man, he 
goes to swell the list of extraordinary military chieftains 
which this war has developed, and then taken from us. He 
was never married, and died without a will, leaving a 
brother and sister to mourn around his grave, placed 
near the spot where they played together in childhood. 

Peace to his ashfa 



CHAPTER XX. 



MAJOR-GENERAL JOHN A. LOGAN. 



GENERALS PROM CIVIL LIFE— LOGAN'S BIRTH AND NATIVITY AND EARL'S 
EDUCATION — SERVES IN THE MEXICAN WAR — STUDIES LAW — HIS PO- 
LITICAL LIFE — VIEWS ON BEING A CANDIDATE FOR CONGRESS IN 1860 — 
FIGHTS IN TECE RANKS AT BULL RUN — RAISES A REGIMENT AND IS MADE 
COLONEL — GALLANTRY AT BELMONT — FORT HENRY — DESPERATELY 
WOUNDED AT FORT DONELSON — UNDER GRANT — HIS CAREER DURING THE 
VICKSBURG CAMPAIGN — TAKES THE STUMP FOR THE ADMINISTRATION — 
PLACED OVER SHERMAN'S CORPS IN THE ATLANTA CAMPAIGN — BATTLE 
BEFORE ATLANTA — HIS COURSE IN THE POLITICAL CAMPAIGN OP 1864 — 
JOINS SHERMAN AT SAVANNAH — HIS CHARACTER AND PERSONAL APPEAR- 
ANCE. 

It is singular that a war, calling into being an army 
of such vast magnitude as ours, and composed almost 
entirely of the militia of the country, and officered by 
civilians, should have produced scarcely an able general 
from civil life. When the highest position is open to 
every one, it is always expected that a fair proportion of 
those not entitled to it by birth or education should attain 
to it by merit alone. Some of Bonaparte's greatest mar- 
shals rose from the ranks, the most unpromising place for 
a man to show any of the qualities that make a general, 
except the common one o ' personal courage, yet in this 
war, scores have been placed, at the start, where their 
abilities could have fair play, and yet only here and there 



HIS EARLY LIFE 435 

one has proved equal to tlie responsibilities placed upon 
him. What is more extraordinary still, the training fur- 
nished by active service in the field, better, one would 
think, than any theoretical education, has scarcely in a 
single instance, done any good — on the contrary, tin; 
general, instead of growing up to his position, has actual- 
ly deteriorated all through his process of training. 

Circumstances, usually, make men — call out the great 
minds needed at that particular juncture. This is an old 
truth and has been verified in our case durino; this war : 
but what seems strange is, that they have not brought to 
the surface more great leaders from civil life. Our dis- 
tinguished generals have risen to eminence on the firm 
foundation of early education, and not by mere force of 
genius. 

There is, however, one remarkable exception. John 
A. Logan never received a military education, yet he has 
obtained a place among the first generals produced by the 
war. Stepping from the halls of Congress into the ranks, 
lie rose to the command of an army by military ability 
and success alone. 

He was born in Murphysboro, Jackson county, Illi- 
nois, on the 9th of February, 1826, and hence was but 
thirty-five years of age when the war broke out. His 
father was an Irishman by birth, and emigrated to this 
country, like so many others, to better his fortune. He 
married a native of Tennessee, and John Alexander was 
the first child of a family of eleven. Living in a new 
. and sparsely settled country, where common schools were 
unknown, John's early education was sadly neglect- 
ed. When the war broke out with Mexico he was 
twenty years of age, and being naturally of a military 
bent, he, like many other young men, volunteered and 

28 



436 MAJOR-GENERAL JOHN A. LOGAN. 

was elected lieutenant in the First Regiment Illinois 
Volunteers. 

In 1848 he returned to his native State, and entered 
on the study of law, into which he threw his whole soul, 
as he did into everything he undertook. With the enthu- 
siasm and quickness of the race from which he sprung on 
his father's side, he made more rapid progress than most 
young men who had enjoyed greatly superior advantages. 
In 1849 he was elected Clerk of his native County, which 
position he held for a year, and then went to Louisville 
to finish his law studies. In 1851 he was licensed to 
practise, and returning home, entered into business with 
his uncle, Alexander M. Jenkins. A ready, enthusiastic 
speaker, he took an active part in politics, and soon be- 
came very popular with the Democrats of the county ; so 
much so, that he was elected Prosecuting Attorney of 
the Judicial district in which he lived. The following 
autumn he was elected to the State Legislature. In 1855 
he married a Miss Mary S. Cunningham, of Sha^vneetown, 
and the next year was appointed Presidential Elector 
from his district. In 1858 he was elected to Congress on 
the Democratic ticket, and in 1860 again became a candi- 
date, thouo;h he said that if he thouoht Mr. Lincoln would 
be elected he would not run, as he did not desire to spend 
another such winter in Congress as the last. " But," 
said he, "//"/ie is elected, I ivill shoulder my musket and 
have him inaugurated ! " He was again returned to Con- 
gress and took part in the momentous deliberations of the 
session of 1861. On one occasion, when speaking of se- 
cession, he said "the men of the West will hew their way 
to the Gulf" He was in Washington when the news of 
the fall of Sumter shook the nation with sudden excite- 
ment, fear and rage, and there also when the capital 



FIGHTS IN THE RANKS. 437 

was cut off from the North by the mob at Baltimore — and 
with beating heart, saw the gathering of tens of thousands 
of soldiers on the banks of the Potomac. When Mc- 
Dowell took up his march for the fatal battle-field of Bull 
llun, he could no longer control his excited feelings, and 
leaving his seat in Congress, started off after the army, 
and overtaking Colonel Richardson's regiment, seized a 
musket and marching onward in the ranks, fought like a 
lion- on that hot July day, being one of the last to leave 
the disastrous field. 

In August he returned home to Marion, where he 
then resided, and so roused the people of the vicinity by 
his eloquence, that in two weeks a regiment (the Thirty- 
First) was raised, of which he was made Colonel. 
In less than two months he led it into battle under 
McClernand, at Belmont. Intensely excited, he raised 
the courage of his troops to the highest pitch by his elo- 
quent appeals and gallant bearing, and in one of the 
charges had his horse shot under him. After the rebel 
camp was 'captured, the garrison on the other side of the 
river in Columbus, sent a strong force across in our rear 
to cut the army off from its boats, some distance up stream. 
McClernand, therefore, gave the order to retreat, and in 
reply to a question from Logan as to what he should do, 
said: "Cut your way out; order your flag to the front." 
Inspired by an order so congenial to his feelings, Logan 
dashed along his line shouting, "Men, we are to cut our 
w ay out," and ordering the flag to be moved to the front, 
he marched straight back on the enemy, and through his 
lines to the boats. 

From that time on, by the side of either Grant or 
Sherman, he was ever found, to the close of the war 
With the former he went through the campaigns up tne 



438 MAJOR-GENERAL JOHN A. LOGAN. 

Cumberland and Tennessee, and after the evacuation of 
Fort Henry followed after the enemy with two hundred 
cavalry, capturing eight pieces of artillery. In the invest- 
ment of Fort Donelson he was with McClernand's divi- 
sion of three brigades, which formed the right wing that 
rested on the river above the works, and which on that 
cold Saturday morning received the onset of more than 
half the rebel army. The fighting here was terrific, and 
our men, though nobly struggling to hold their ground, 
were steadily borne back. Logan's regiment, overwhelmed 
by a desperate assault, was thrown into confusion,- the 
sight of which drove him half frantic, and he galloped 
amid the broken ranks, rallying them by his stirring 
appeals, and furnishing them an example of bravery by 
his own reckless exposure of his person. In the midst of 
his gallant efforts a bullet entered his left arm near the 
shoulder. He, however, still kept the saddle and rode 
amid the fire with the blood streaming down his side. 
Soon after he was struck in the thigh twice, yet he still 
continued to harangue his men; "stand firm," liP shouted, 
though he began to feel a deadly sickness at his heart 
from loss of blood. He could hardly retain his seat in 
the saddle, yet refused to dismount until the arrival of 
reinforcements. He then allowed himself to be carried 
fii-om the field. 

Before his wounds were healed he Avas attacked with 
disease, which came near ending his career. But as soon 
as he was able to be moved he was taken home, where he 
rapidly recovered, and in April reported himself to Grant 
at Pittsburg Landing. In the meantime he had been 
promoted Brigadier-General, to date from March 5th. 

In the movement against Corinth by Halleck, he 
commanded a brigade, and afterward till the latter part 



PATRIOTIC VIEWS. 439 

of June, took charge oi the railroad between Jackson and 
Columbus. As soon as it was in running order he 
assumed command of the forces in the latter place. 

In preparing for the next fall's political campaign, the 
democrats of his district wished him to run again for 
Congress. He refused, however, to be a candidate, say- 
ing that he had no politics now but attachment to the 
Union, and that it was his settled resolution to serve his 
country on the field of battle till its integrity was restored. 
"No," said he, "I am to-day a soldier of the Republic, so 
to remain changeless and immutable, until her last and 
weakest enemy has expired and passed away. I have 
entered the field to die, if need be, for this government, and 
never expect to return to peaceful pursuits until this war 
of preservation has become a fact established. What^ 
ever means it may be necessary to adopt, whatever local 
interest it may affect or destroy, is no longer an affair of 
mine. If any locality or section suffers or is wronged in 
the prosecution of the war, I am sorry for it; but I say 
it must not be heeded now, for we are at war for the 
preservation of the Union. Let the evil be rectified Avhen 
the present breach has been cemented forever.'" 

In Grant's winter campaign in 1862 and 1863, in 
northern Mississippi, Logan commanded a division. 
Promoted to the rank of Major-General, he was now 
assigned to the command of the Third Division of Mg- 
Pherson s Seventeenth Army Corps. 

In the grand campaign against Vicksburg that fol- 
lowed, Logan bore a conspicuous part. At Port Gibson 
he came up to the battle-field just in time to secure vic- 
tory to the Thirteenth Corps. In the march on Ray- 
mond, his division led the advance, and opened the battle, 
and after some sharp fighting, forced the enemy to fall 



440 MAJOR-GENERAL JOHN A. LOGAN. 

back to a very strong position in rear of a creek. This, 
Logan was ordered to charge, and a desperate struggle 
followed. In the contest, two regiments had advanced 
too far from their support, and came near being cut off 
by a sudden dash of the enemy ; one of them suffering se- 
verely. In the height of the disaster, McPherson and 
his staff rode on the field. Logan, seeing his line about 
to be crushed, and thinking defeat certain, burst into 
tears, but McPherson speaking a few words to him, he 
wheeled, and putting spurs to his horse, dashed amid the 
confused ranks, and rallying them by his voice and pres- 
ence, rode to their head and bade them follow. With a 
cheer they sprang forward, and fell with such sudden, un- 
expected fury on the astonished rebels, that they were 
driven back in confusion. Reinforcements now coming 
up, the whole line advanced, and the strong position was 
Carried. 

The battle of Raymond, which "Grant called one 
of the hardest small battles of the war," was won by 
Logan s division alone. The numbers on both sides were 
probably about equal ; but the rebels had greatly the ad- 
vantage in position. An eye-witness says, " General Lo- 
gan was, as usual, full of zeal, and intoxicated with en- 
thusiasm. His horse was shot twice. If you. ever hear 
that Logan is defeated, make up your mind that he and 
most of his men have been sacrificed. He has stricken 
the word 'retreat' from his military lexicon." 

In the battle of Champion's Hill, Hovey, who had 
manfully contended against superior numbers for a long 
time, was at length forced back half a mile, when, re- 
ceiving reinforcements, he was just commencing a for- 
ward movement again, as he saw the bayonets of Logan's 
division swiftly advancing to his help. 



METHODIST REGIMENT. 441 

In the midst of the fight, an officer rode up to Logan 
to enquire how the battle was going. "Tell General 
Grani," he replied, "that my division can't be whipped 
by all the rebels this side of h — 1. We are going ahead, 
and won't stop till we get orders." 

In the same battle, the Twenty-fourth loAva, called 
the " Methodist regiment," because the colonel and sev- 
eral of the captains were Methodist preachers, and a ma- 
jority of the soldiers Methodist professors of religion, 
greatly distinguished itself — fighting with the same en- 
thusiasm they Avould sing at a camp-meeting. The major 
being wounded, limped from the field to go to the rear. 
In doing so, he encountered a stalwart rebel, whom he 
captured, and mounting his back, made him carry him to 
the provost-marshal's headquarters, where he delivered 
him up. That night, the Methodist regiment, though it 
had been sadly depleted, held a religious meeting, an'd 
made the woods resound with their stirring hymns. 

During the siege of Vicksburg that followed, Mc- 
Pherson's corps held the centre of our line, and Logan 
the centre of the corps, near where Grant had his head- 
quarters. After the explosion of the mine under the 
main fort, he made the desperate assault that followed, 
and which came so near succeeding. On the surrender 
of the place, his division was given the post of honor ; 
leading the advance of the column of occupation, while he 
was put in command of the place. A medal of honor 
was voted him by the renowned corps of McPherson, in- 
scribed with the names of the battles in which he had 
taken part. 

But now, for awhile, he left the military for the polit- 
ical field. Though a prominent democrat, he warmly 
espoused the cause of the government ; declaring that 



442 MAJOR-GENERAL JOHN A. LOGAN. 

the salvation of the country depended on giving it a 
hearty support. Such a champion from the ranks of 
the opposition was not to be allowed to remain idle, and 
he was sent through the North to make stump speeches 
for the administration. A capital speaker, bold, fluent, 
and enthusiastic, he carried great influence with him. 

When Grant was made Lieutenant-General, and Sher- 
man took his place as commander of the Military Di- 
vision of the Mississippi, Logan took Sherman's place as 
commander of the Fifteenth Army Corps. Assuming 
command in November, he, during the winter, made 
preparations for the Georgia campaign, which was to 
open in the spring. 

When Sherman, on the 1st of May, moved out of 
Chattanooga, and made his first great flank movement to 
Kesaca, by McPherson, Logan led the advance, and took 
part in the battle that followed, as he also did in that of 
Kenesaw Mountain. 

In the desperate assault of Hood, at Atlanta, upon 
McPherson, he fought as he never fought before. All 
the forenoon of that memorable 2 2d of July, his clarion 
voice rang over the clamor of battle, steadying his men, 
and holding them to their desperate work. Again and 
again the massive columns of the enemy came fiercely on, 
and, scoffing at death, moved madly up to the muzzles of 
his guns. A portion actually got in his works, when 
Logan fought them from the outside. The last message 
that McPherson sent on earth was to Loo-an. Just be- 

o 

fore he entered the woods where he fell, he despatched a 
member of his stafi" to him, directing him to throw a 
brigade across a gap between his own corps and the Six- 
teenth, and then meet him at Smith's headquarters be- 
yond. Alas, that meeting never took place. 



A BATTLE CRT. 44S 

When his death was announced to Logan, at one 
o'clock, he immediately, as senior officer, assumed tem- 
porary command, and roused into higher excitement by 
the sudden responsibility thrown upon him, and the death 
of his beloved commander, rode furiously along the lines, 
shouting, " McPherson and revenge ! "" The soldiers took 
it up, and, with tears in their eyes, yet deadly hate in 
their hearts, exceeded in daring and desperation their 
gallant conduct of the forenoon. Under the inspiration 
of Logan's eye, and voice, and bearing, and borne on- 
ward by the fearful slogan, " McPherson and revenge ! * 
they charged with resistless fury on the foe, and, like 
stout mowers in the harvest, laid fearful swaths of dead 
men where they moved. Logan officially reported the 
enemy's dead in his front at three thousand two hundred 
and forty, of which number his own soldiers buried over 
two thousand — and that their total loss would be nearly 
twelve thousand. Eighteen stand of colors, and five 
thousand small arms were left in his hands. 

Logan showed in this battle that he could handle a 
large army with consummate skill, and added greatly to 
his well-earned reputation. 

Howard was now placed over the A rniy of the Ten- 
nessee in the place of McPherson, when Hood made 
another desperate assault upon it. It had been put in 
motion to get on the railroad at East Point, and Hood, 
a^vare of it, came out of Atlanta, and after a heavy ar- 
tillery fire, advanced in parallel lines directly against 
Logan's corps, expecting, as Sherman said, "to catch 
that flank in air." Logan watched the magnificent ap- 
proach of the columns with dilating eye, and when near 
enough, he opened on them such a destructive fire tha* 
the ranks broke and fled. But they were " rallied again. 



444 MAJOR-GENERAL JOHN A. LOGAN. 

and as often as six times at some points," but the few 
rebel officers and men that reached our lines of rail-piles 
were either killed or hauled over as prisoners. The 
struggle lasted four hours, but at last the rebels gave 
wa}', with a loss of six thousand. 

After the evacuation of Atlanta, Logan came home 
t-o stump the Western States for Lincoln. A leading 
democrat, a gallant soldier, a successful general, and a 
popular orator, he w^as a powerful auxiliary to the Ad- 
ministration, and was kept hard at work in the political 
field, while the corps that he loved was preparing, under 
another leader, for a campaign more extraordinary even 
than the last. With the natural intensity of his character, 
he threw himself as enthusiastically into this political 
campaign as he had always done into a military one. 
His course naturally created great excitement in tlite 
ranks of his former political friends, and in many quarters 
he was fiercely denounced ; but believing, as he did, that 
the policy \vhich the Administration had adopted was 
the only safe one for the country, he did not care. 

Mr. Lincoln's election being secured, his attention 
was naturally turned again to the military field, and join- 
ing Sherman's army, at Savannah, he resumed th€ 
command of his old corps, and at the head of it, made 
that wonderful campaign through the Carolinas. After 
the capitulation of Johnston, he marched his men across 
^he country to Alexandria, and rode at their head in the 
subsequent grand review^ at Washington. 

Howard being appointed at this time chief of the 
Freedmen's Bureau, Logan took his place, as commander 
of the Army of the Tennessee. 

As a civilian, devoting himself suddenly to military 
life, Logan took the oidy true course. A Democrat, and 



PERSONAL APPEARANCE. 445 

a leading one too, he could easil}^, as a supporter of the 
Government, at a time when politics made generals, have 
arisen at a single bound to a high command. But he 
did not desire this ; from the hall of Congress he stepped 
into the ranks, and shouldering his musket, and tramping 
on foot beside the humblest soldier, did a yeoman's part 
in the first great battle for the life of the republic. Such a 
man deserved rank, and was duly honored in after years. 
A friend tlius speaks of liim : " The character of Logan 
may be summed up in a few words. He has a large 
mind, stored with liberal views. He has a heart open to 
acts of the rarest generosity. He never intentionally 
injured a man in his life. He is a forgiving enemy, only 
implacable when basely wronged. He is the idol of his 
soldiers He talks to them, and mingles with them, and 
shakes hands with them. Physically, he is one of the 
finest looking ofiicers in the army. A deep and fierce 
black eye, heavy black moustache, black hair, and very 
dark complexion give him a terrible look when aroused. 
Broad shoulders, well set on a muscular frame, give 
him the appearance of a man of great power. He wears 
usually a broad-brimmed black felt hat, plain major-gene- 
rafs coat, and blue pantaloons stuck in his boots. He 
has not the prim appearance of a military dandy ; in fact, 
he looks like the citizen-soldier all over. Judging from ap- 
pearances, one would suppose that he left home in a 
hurry to attend to some business which he had not quite 
finished. Mounted, and in battle, there are few in the 
army who so nearly realize the idea of a great warrior. 
To see Logan in a fight is magnificent." 

In 1866 he was elected from Illinois to the 40th 
Congress as a Republican, and served as one of the man- 
agers in the impeachment trial of President Johnson. 



446 MAJOR-GENERAL JOHN A. LOGAN. 

He was re-elected to the 41st Congress — also to the 
42d — but before that body convened he was chosen 
by the Illinois legislature U. S. Senator for the term be- 
ginning March 4th, 1871. At its expiration, March 3d, 
1877, he resumed the practice of law in Chicago. He 
was again retui'ned to the U. S. Senate, and took his 
seat March 18th, 1879. At the Chicago Convention, 
June, 1884, he was nominated for vice-president. 

When General Logan's sudden death (1887) was 
announced, James G. Blaine thus briefly summarized his 
character: " General Logan was a man of immense force 
in a legislative body. His will was unbending, his 
courage, both moral and physical, was of highest order. 
I never knew a more fearless man. He did not quail 
before public opinion when he had once made up his 
mind any more than he did before the guns of the enemy 
when he headed a charge of his enthusiastic troops. In 
debate he was aggressive and effective. While there have 
been more illustrious military leaders in the United 
States, and more illustrious leaders in legislative halls, 
there has, I think, been no man in this country who has 
combined the two careers in so eminent a degree as 
General Logan." Logical and keen-sighted, his blows 
were well planned, although they fell wild and furious 
— and he was at the same time one of the most impetu- 
ous, yet safest of men. Rising from civil life to the 
command of an army, he met the increased responsibili- 
ties and duties of each upward step in his progress with 
complete satisfaction; and stood as one of the best 
types of a citizen soldier. Educated to public speaking, 
and much of the time before the public, he was ap- 
plauded everywhere for his gallahtry, and had nothing 
to say for himself, but always spoke of his country. 



p, 

^ 




CHAPTER XXI. 



MAJOR-GENERAL AMBROSE E. BURNSmi!.. 



Hie ANCESTRY AND NATIVITY — GRADUATES AT WEST POINT — SENT TO MEXI- 
CO — FIGHT WITH INDIANS — QUARTERMASTER OP THE BOUNDARY COMMIS- 
SION — RESIGNS — ESTABLISHES A MANUFACTORY OF THE BURNSIDE RIFLE — 
HIS FAILURE — GOES WEST — OBTAINS EMPLOYMENT IN THE ILLINOIS 
CENTRAL RAILROAD — COLONEL OF A RHODE ISLAND REGIMENT — BATTLE 
OF BULL RUN — THE EXPEDITION TO ROANOKE — CAPTURES NEWBERN — 

RECALLED TO AID m'cLELLAN— HIS FAILURE AT ANTIETAM SUPERSEDES 

M'CLELLAN — BATTLK OF FREDERICKSBURG —RESIGNS HIS COMMAND— SENT 
TO OHIO — HIS ADMINISTRATION OF AFFAIRS — CAPTURES KNOXVILLE — BE- 
SIEGED BY LONGSTREET — GOES EAST — AUTHORIZED TO RAISE FIFTY 
THOUSAND VOLUNTEERS — THE RESERVE OF GRANT'S ARMY— HIS GREAT 
SERVICES IN THE RICHMOND CAMPAIGN — THE MINE AT PETERSBURG — RE- 
TIRES FROM THE ARMY — HIS CHARACTER. 



Ambrose Everett Burnside is of Scotch descent, his 
grandparents having emigrated from Scotland and settled 
in South Carolina, where his father was born. The latter 
removed to Liberty, Union county, Indiana, where the 
future general saw the light on the 23d of May, 1824. He 
graduated at West Point in 1847, and was commissioned 
second lieutenant in the Third Artillery and ordered to 
Mexico, but the war was virtually over before he reached 
the scene of action. He was then stationed at Fort 
Adams, Newport, Rhode Island, but in 1849 was ordered 
to New Mexico to join Bragg's battery. The country, 



448 MAJOR-GENERAL AMBROSE E. BURNSIDE. 

however, proving impracticable for artillery, the command 
was reorganized as cavalry, a kind of force much better 
suited to operate against the mounted Indian tribes, and 
Burnside was put in charge of a squadron, with Avliich 
he had a sharp fight with the Apaches, routing them com- 
pletely. His gallant conduct on this occasion received 
the highest praise. J^iado Quarter- master of the Boun- 
dary Commission, under John K. Bartlett, he accompa- 
nied it in 1850~'51 and fulfilled his duties with zeal and 
ability. From the copper mines of New Mexico he was 
sent as the bearer of despatches to Washington, and in 
the following December was promoted to first lieutenant. 
Having, while in New Mexico, invented a breech-load- 
ing rifle, which still bears his name, he resigned his com- 
mission for the purpose of devoting himself to its manu- 
facture. An arrangement being made with the Secretary 
of War for a large number, he erected, at a great ex- 
pense, buildings with which to commence . operations — but 
the Secretary refusing to take the guns, they were brought 
to a sudden close. The money for the erection of the 
buildings had been borrowed on the strength of the con- 
tract with the government, and this being repudiated, 
there was no demand for the rifle at all commensurate 
with the outlay for its manufacture, and he saw himself 
ruined before he had fairly got started. Giving up every- 
thing to his creditors, he went to New York, sold his 
sword in Chatham street for what he could get, and started 
West to find employment. Seeking out his old comrade, 
McClellan, who graduated in the next class before him, 
and who was now Vice-President* and Engineer of the 
Illinois Central Railroad, he obtained the position of 
cashier in the Company on a salary of $2,000 a year. 
But he was soon promoted to Treasurer with an increased 



EXPEDITION TO ROANOKE. 449 

salary, and transferred to New York, where he continued 
to reside till the breaking v)ut of the war. At the first 
call to arms he threw up his lucrative office, hastened 
to Khode Island, and was made Colonel of the First 
Khode Island Volunteers. Only four days after the 
President's proclamation was issued, a detachment of one 
hundred and fifty of his regiment,- with a light battery of 
six guns, was on its way to Washington. 

In the battle of Bull Hun he commanded a brigade 
under Hunter, who executed the flank movement to the 
right. Cool and courageous in the fight, he was highly 
complimented by McDowell, and soon after made Briga- 
dier-General of Volunteers and called to Washington to 
assist McClellan in reorganizing the army. Before the 
latter was ready to move with the Army of the Potomac, 
he planned an expedition into Roanoke Sound and placed 
Burnside at the head of it. Being the second expedition 
sent off by our government, it created the mtensest ex- 
citement, Avhich was increased by the coming on of bad 
weather soon after it put to sea. It sailed from Hamp- 
ton Boads in January, and consisted of twenty-three gun- 
boats and transports, carrying 15,000 men. This impos- 
ing fleet was scattered at the very entrance to the Sound 
— the " City of New York " foundered on the bar, the 
gunboat " Zouave " sunk at her anchorage, one transport 
was blown out to sea, one went down on the bar, while 
still another, loaded with a hundred and twenty-three 
horses, was wrecked and only seventeen out of the whole 
number succeeded in swimming to shore through the surf. 
Burnside, though filled with distress at the catastrophe 
that had overtaken him, was not discouraged. Trusting 
in that God who rules the storm, he went earnestly to 
work to repair his disasters. Though sAvept by successive 



450 MAJOR-GENERAL AMBROSE E. BURNSIDB. 

storms, he, at lengtli, on the 5th of February, set sail for 
Roanoke Island. On reaching its southern extremity, on 
which the rebels had erected formidable works, Golds- 
borough, the naval commander, prepared for battle and 
the signal was run up : " This day our country expects 
every man to do his duty." The bombardment was kept 
up all day till four o'clock, when the transports, loaded 
with the troops, hove in sight. Burnside now resolved 
to effect a landing and carry the works by storm. Six 
thousand were safely got ashore that evening, and, without 
blankets or tents, passed the long, wintry night in a 
drenching storm. The next morning, in two columns, 
under the command of Generals Foster and Reno, mov- 
ing on each flank of the fort, the army advanced to the 
attack, carrying it in one gallant charge. A part of th« 
garrison fled along the island, but were followed and cap- 
tured. Three thousand prisoners and thirty guns, besides 
stores, ammunition, etc., fell into our hands. A portion 
of the fleet advanced to Elizabeth City, whither the rebel 
vessels had fled, and captured it with all the steamers that 
had taken refuge there. 

Burnside followed up his victory, and soon had con- 
trol of the entire coast down to Newbern, against which 
he prepared next to move. Having completed his prep- 
arations, he set sail the following month, March, for the 
Neuse, and ascending it some thirty miles, came to an- 
chor for the night. Flooded by the gentle moonlight 
that silvered the tranquil waters of the stream, over 
which, in different directions, music from the band float 
ed, the fleet rode quietly at anchor till morning. The de- 
barkation then commenced, and the troops were landed 
without meeting any opposition, and began their march 
toward Newbern, while the fleet moved parallel with it. 



CAPTURE OF NEWBERN. 451 

shelling the woods in front. It was a stormy day, yet 
the troops marched fifteen miles, and by a little after dark 
came near the enemy's works, which were some three 
miles below the city. These were very strong, and well 
manned, yet Burn side advanced boldly against them — but 
after a contest of four hours, finding that his artillery 
produced but little effect, he ordered a general assault. 
With a cheer, the men dashed over the ramparts, sweep- 
ing them like an inundation. Leaving their arms and 
blankets strewed along the road, the rebels fled toward 
Newbern, burning the bridges behind them. Between 
sixty and seventy cannon were found in the various 
works, and fell into our hands. It was a great victory, 
and at once raised Burnside to a high place in the popu- 
lar estimation ; and four days after it he was made 
major-general. 

He now sent a detachment to occupy Beaufort, and 
invested Fort Macon, which commands the approach to 
it. Alter immense labor; — dragging his guns by hand, 
and placing them in battery under the most adverse cir- 
cumstances, and getting up floating batteries, he was at 
length able to open tire with such effect that it was soon 
reduced to ruins, and forced to surrender. 

Burnside had now accomplished all that McClellan 
had given him to do, and he rested quietly until the 
movements of the latter against Bichmond were fully de- 
veloped. When it was found that a retreat from the 
Cliickahominy to the James Biver was inevitable, Mc- 
Clellan ordered him to reinforce him with the greater 
part of his army. He at once took his force to Newport 
News, but McClellan soon alter being commanded to 
vvithdraw Irom the Peninsula, he was ordered to Freder- 
icksburg by the Secretary of War, and took up his })osi- 
29 



452 MAJOR-GENERAL AMBROSE E. EURNSIDE. 

tion there, where he remained until the close of Pope's 
campaign. 

The invasion of Maryland soon after by Lee, sending 
consternation into the Cabinet, and compelling it to place 
McClellan once more at the head of the army, brought 
Burnside again into the field. Moving up the Potomac with 
the abused, defeated, but still grand and noble " Army of 
the Potomac," he took part in the battle of South Moun- 
tain ; and in the srreat decisive fio-ht that followed at An- 
tietam, was given by McClellan the command of the left 
wing. Hooker had command of the right, and was or- 
dered to cross the stream some distance above, and come 
down on the rebel left wing, and force it so heavily that 
Lee would be compelled to weaken his right, to keep it 
from being crushed. When this was done, Burnside was 
to move rapidly across the stone bridge in his front, as- 
cend the opposite heights, and by one resistless charge 
turn this flank of the rebel army; and, if possible, keep 
on till he got in the rear at Sharpsburg, and thus secure 
complete victory. Hooker performed his part of the pro- 
gramme, but Burnside failed in the movement assigned 
him. Whether obstacles intervened that were not antici- 
pated, or whether he imagined those that did not exist, 
or whether he chose to follow his own judgment as to the 
time when he should move, does not appear. At all 
events, he seriously disappointed and offended McClellan, 
who attributed the failure to utterly overthrow Lee to his 
persistent and repeated disobedience of orders. 

During the following autumn, he was put in Mc- 
Clellan's place, as commander of the Army of the Poto- 
mac. He did not wish to take this position, declaring 
that he was not fit for it, and that McClellan should be 
kept there. The position, ho^vever, being forced upon 



BATTLE OF FREDERICKSBURG. 45 S 

him, he felt that something decisive was expected of 
him, and he suddenly transferred the army from Warren- 
ton to Fredericksburg, intending to get in Lee's rear, and 
compel him to a decisive battle. But when he got in front 
of the place, the pontoons, which he had directed to be 
forwarded from Washington, had not arrived, and he was 
compelled to sit idly down on the banks of the Rappa- 
hannock, while Lee marched down the other side, and 
occupied the heights of Fredericksburg. Burnside, 
his original plan having entirely miscarried, now resolved 
to attack Lee in his entrenchments. This was plainl}' 
the most hazardous and desperate course that could be 
adopted, hence he concluded it would be the last one Lee 
would expect him to take. On the contrary, believing 
that an attempt would be made to cross either above or 
below him, and turn one of his flanks, he Avould naturally 
weaken his centre to protect them. 

In carrying out his plans, therefore, Burnside resolved 
to throw Franklin with the left wing over the river, three 
miles below Fredericksburg, as though he designed to 
attack from that quarter, and then suddenly push his 
army up the heights in fi'ont in one tremendous assault. 

Finding it impossible to lay his pontoons opposite the 
city, on account of the sharpshooters that filled the houses, 
he bombarded it, playing on it all day with one hundred 
and seventy guns. 

At length he succeeded in laying his pontoons, when 
the army marched over into the place. Franklin was 
also across below, and Saturday morning the grand ad- 
vance was made. The artillery, from the farther side, 
opened, under the cover of which the columns began to 
ascend the slope toward the rebel entrenchments. The 
hostile batteries at once began to play with awful havoc 



454 MAJOR-GENERAL AMBROSE E. BURNSIDE. 

on our uncovered ranks ; the heights trembled under the 
shock, and lay wrapped in one vast shroud of white smoke, 
out of which arose the incessant crash of musketry, as our 
brave troops tried in vain to breast the awful storm. It 
could be hardly called a battle — it was a frightful mas- 
sacre, for our men stood and were shot down like bul- 
locks in the field. Many a brave officer was thankful 
when night came, and put an end to the useless 
slaughter. Twenty thousand men had fallen, and yet 
not a foothold of any kind had been gained — no progress 
whatever made toward success. The next day was a 
gloomy Sabbath for the army as it lay in Fredericksburg. 
On Monday night Burnside ordered a retreat, and the 
defeated army once more marched into its encampment 
at Falmouth. 

This battle was severely criticized and loudly con- 
demned both in and out of the army, and caused an un- 
pleasant state of feeling between Burnside and some of 
his corps commanders. 

Next month (January) he made another attempt to 
cross the Rappahannock near the spot where Hooker 
subsequently effected a passage, but before the movement 
was complete, a heavy rayi-storm set in which turned 
the whole country into a sea of mud, and it was aban- 
doned. Mortified at his failures, annoyed by the criti- 
cisms on his conduct, and indignant at the behaviour of 
some of his commanders, Burnside now resigned his com- 
mand, and Hooker was put in his place. 

He was next put in command of the Department of 
the Ohio, and took up his headquarters at Cincinnati, 
where, in June, he issued an order in which he declared 
his intention to put a stop to all open expressions of 
hostility to the Government. He soon awakened a storm 



LOYAL TENNESSEANS. 455 

of opposition, and Vallandigham defying liira, he had 
him arrested and tried by coiirt-martial. This made 
matters worse, and the Democratic press loaded him witli 
obloquy, when he issued another order, prohibiting the cir- 
culation of The Chicago Times and The Neiu York World 
in his Department. But instead of allaying the excite- 
ment he increased it tenfold, and it was seriously feared 
t lat there would be a collision between the citizens and 
soldiers, and another civil war be inaugurated right there 
in his midst. The President, alarmed at this state of 
things, revoked the order in respect to The Chicago 
Times. 

In August, Burnside put Kentucky under martial 
law, on the ground that the State was being invaded by 
disloyal persons for the purpose of overawing the elec- 
tions. 

In the meantime he set on foot an expedition into 
East Tennessee, for the purpose of seizing Knoxville and 
co-operating with Rosecrans operating against Chatta- 
nooga. Having organized it with great success, he sud- 
denly moved on Knoxville in the latter part of the month, 
and entered it without firing a shot. So skilful and 
rapid had been his movements, that the rebels fled in the 
utmost panic, while a force two thousand strong at Cum- 
berland Gap was cut off, and surrendered with fourteen 
pieces of artillery. This was an unexpected blow to the 
Confederacy, and Davis openly declared that he would 
have East Tennessee back again, cost what it would. 

The loyal Tennesseans, who had suffered for their 
fidelity to the government, patiently waiting to see once 
more the old flag among them, were overjoyed. Cooking 
everything they had, they gave it to the soldiers freelv 
and without price. "Women stood by the roadside with 



456 MAJOR-GENERAL AMBROSE E. BURNSIDE, 

pails of water, and displayed Union flags. The wonder 
was where all the stars and stripes came from. Kiiox- 
\dlle was radiant with flags. At a point on the road 
from Kingston to Knoxville, sixty women and girls stood 
by the roadside waving Union flags, shouting 'Hurrah 
for the Union.' Old ladies rushed out of their houses 
and wanted to see General Burnside and shake hands 
with him, and cried, 'Welcome, welcome, General Burn- 
side, w^elcome to East Tennessee! '" A public meeting was 
called, and addressed by Burnside, and joy and gladness 
reigned on every side. 

He now began to move south to co-operate with 
Rosecrans at Chattanooga, but before he reached him, 
the battle of Chickamauga took place, which suddenly 
brought him to a halt, for Bragg deeming himself 
strong enough to take care of Bosecrans \vith a part of 
liis force, had despatched Longstreel to reconquer Knox- 
ville. 

A j)art of Burnside's army lay at Loudon, on the road 
toward Chattanooga in October, when the approach of 
the rebel force caused him to order its evacuation, 
and the troops fell back to Lenoir s, where he joined 
them. He then advanced back on Loudon, and gave the 
enemy battle, driving him some two miles ; but hearing 
tliat the main rebel force was rapidly coming up agaiii, 
retired on Lenoir s, losing some of his trains, as th(j 
animals were needed to drag the artillery. Still falling 
back on Kjioxville, he was overtaken at CampbelFs Sta- 
tion and forced to give battle. With his inferior num- 
bers, he held the enemy in check till nightfall, when the 
retreat was resumed. The rebels followed on, hoping to 
feurn the retreat into a rout ; but the troops were handled 
with such skill by their brigade commanders, that every 



SIEGE OF KNOXVILLE. 457 

effort was repulsed ; and after maintaining a running fight 
for two miles, they 'gave it up as a hopeless task. 

The army reached Knoxville at daylight on the 17th 
of November, and Longstreet, advancing, laid regular siege 
to the place. 

Grant having assumed command at Chattanooga, 
became very anxious about Burnside. Only two days 
Defore, he telegraphed him, "I do not know how to im- 
press on you the necessity of holding on to East Ten- 
nessee, in strong enough terms;'' and again, "I can hardly 
conceive the necessity of retreating from East Tennessee. 
If I did at all, it would be after losing most of the army," 
&c. Still Burnside's condition was a perilous one, and 
if he retreated at all it must be at once, for if he could 
not be relieved in a short time, his army would be com- 
pelled to surrender from mere want of provisions. He 
had fortified the place strongly and might resist any 
assault ; but the question of food was a vital one. 

The brilliant and successful attack on Missionary 
Ridge followed, and Grant despatched Sherman to his 
relief In the meantime, Longstreet had made a despe- 
rate assault on Knoxville with his whole army, but was 
beaten back with severe loss. Sitting down before it in 
regular siege again, he determined to starve out Burnside ; 
but alarmed by the near approach of Sherman, he broke 
up his camp, and moving round the place, took up his 
line of march for Virginia. Burnside pushed on after 
him, and though partial engagements followed, he could 
not force him to a general battle. 

Soon after, he turned over his command to Foster, 
and returned East. Obtaining permission to increase his 
old corps, the Ninth, to fifty thousand men, he called for 
volunteers. It was thought, at the time, that some im- 



458 MAJOR-GENERAL AMBROSE E. BURNSIDE. 

portant independent expedition was contemplated, but it 
turned out that the corps, composed in part of colored 
troops, was to act as a reserve force to Grant, in his 
march from the Rapidan to Richmond. It was stationed 
at Manassas when the movement commenced, and, after 
the first day's battle in the Wilderness, made a long, grand 
march to the help of Grant, and turned an almost defeat 
into a victory. Burnside bore his part nobly in the 
series of battles and marches that followed, till the army 
sat doAvn before Petersburg. All attempts to take this 
place by assault failing, Burnside resolved to run a mine 
under one of the principal forts of the enemy, blow it up, 
and in the confusion that followed, rush in, and thus get 
control of the hostile lines. For more than a month the 
work was conducted so secretly — all the earth excavated 
being carried away in buckets and boxes — that the enemy 
could get no clue to what was going on. At length it 
was finished, and filled with barrels of gunpowder. At 
the appointed time, the assaulting columns were formed — 
one of which was composed of colored soldiers — and the 
train to the mine fired. A dull, heavy sound followed, 
issuing out of the bowels of the earth ; the hill heaved a 
moment, as if in mortal agony, and then opened with an 
earthquake sound, and down went fort and garrison into 
the yawning gulf A scene of indescribable terror and 
confusion followed ; but, owing to some delay in the as- 
saulting columns, the rebels had time to recover from 
their surprise, and closing in upon our disordered troops, 
mowed them down without mercy, and took many pris- 
oners. Thus, after a month's ceaseless labor, what was 
meant to be an engine of destruction to the enemy, was 
made one to ourselves. Burnside was literally " hoisted 
by his own petard." This disastrous failure called forth 



HIS CHARACTER. 459 

a storm of accusation, and an investigation took place 
whicli only confused the matter still more. Buruside, 
however, under the severe strictures made upon liim, 
asked to be relieved from command, and returned to 
Rhode Island. This closed his military services. After 
the war he resigned his commission, and retired to civil 
life. 

In 1866 he was elected governor of Rhode Island, 
and again in '67 and '68. He went to Europe during 
the Franco-Prussian war, and visited the Prussian army 
at Versailles. In 1875 he was elected to the U. S. Sen- 
ate from Rhode Island and re-elected in 1880, 

Burnside's career was a varied one, and perhaps his 
successes and failures illustrate more fairly than it can 
be done in any other way, the great qualities and the 
defects of his military character. The expeditions 
against Roanoke and Newbern were skilfully planned, 
and admirably carried out, and showed his great capa- 
city ; while his attack on Fredericksbui'g exhibited a 
disregard or ignorance of some of the most firmly estab- 
lished rules of military science. So his administration 
in Ohio revealed a want of sagacity and true apprehen- 
sion of his duties, and the proper mode of performing 
them, while his expedition into East Tennessee devel- 
oped again that skilfulness in planning, and energy and 
promptness in execution, which first gave him his repu- 
tation. He was an able commander, notwithstanding 
the reverses he met with, and altogether a noble man 
and a true patriot. His moral excellence no one ques- 
tioned, and in this respect he will always be regarded 
as a model soldier. Of fine personal presence, his bold, 
open look revealed the truth and integrity of his heart. 
He died in 1881. 



CHAPTER XXII. 



MAJOR-GENERAL PHILIP HENRY SHERIDAN 

HIS NATIVITY AND BIKTH FROM DRIVING A WATER-OART PASSES TO "WEaT 

POINT — HIS BELLIGERENT OHARAOTER — NARROWLY ESCAPES BEING DIS- 
GRACED HIS EARLY SERVICES PERSONAL HEROISM — SENT WEST HIS LIFE 

IN THE INDIAN TERRITORY QUARTERMASTER UNDER CURTIS — IS ARRESTED 

— MADE CAPTAIN OF CAVALRY— GALLANT FIGHT NEAR BOONEVILLE PRO- 
MOTED SERVES UNDER BUELL AND ROSECRANS — FIGHTS DESPERATELY AT 

MURFREESBORO' AT CHICKAMAUGA — ASSAULTS MISSIONARY RIDGE PLACED 

OVER THE CAVALRY OF THE ARMY OF THE POTOMAC HIS RAIDS ON RAIL- 
ROADS — PUT IN COMMAND OF SHENANDOAH VALLEY BATTLES WITH EARLY 

— LAYS WASTE THE COUNTRY BATTLE OF MIDDLETOWN^HIS GALLANT 

CONDUCT — RAID TO LYNCHBURG AND RICHMOND — JOINS GRANT — COMMEN- 
CES THE LAST GREAT MOVEMENT BATTLE OF FIVE FORKS — PURSUIT OF 

LEE HEAVY CAPTURES — THE END HIS CHARACTER. 

Sheridan was born in Perry County, Ohio, and is one 
of the many examples of men of humble origin rising to 
fame in a repubUc. His parents were but plain Irish peo- 
ple, and having given him such an education as the com- 
mon schools of the State furnished, set him to work at 
an early age to help earn a livelihood. Being of such 
humble origin, little is known of his boyhood. He seem- 
ed to be destined to no higher occupation than that of 
day-laborer, for at seventeen we find him driving a water- 
cart through the streets of Zanesville. From the water- 
cart he went T\dth one long step to West Point Academy. 
An older brother had some local political influence ; and 



CAREER AT WEST POINT. 461 

somehow or otlier, Phil, as he was called, had attracted the 
notice of the Congressman from that district, which just 
then, 1848, had the privilege of sending a cadet to the 
national military school, and he got him appointed. This, 
was a sudden transformation for the Irish lad, and his 
ignorance and awkward manners were a great provocation 
to the older cadets to harass him. He graduated June, 
1853, and hence was twenty-two when he finished his 
military studies. In the same class were McPherson, 
Schofield, Hill, and the rebel Hood. He had a hard 
time of it, how^ever, during the five years he was com- 
pleting his military education. Being always a quick- 
tempered boy, and though fond of a frolic, yet often 
wounding the feelings of others by his reckless conduct, 
he naturally, at West Point, got involved in perpetual 
quarrels. He was good-natured, yet always ready for a 
tight — indeed, the bump of combativeness must have 
been developed in his head in such a remarkable degree 
at this time, that a cast of it would have been invaluable 
to a phrenologist. He was a bright scholar — showing 
the same energy in his studies that he did in his combats 
— yet the "black marks" he received for his pranks, and 
tricks, and fights, preponderated so frightfully over the 
good ones that he obtained for his scholarly attainments, 
that he could barely retain his place in the Academy. It 
was often a serious question with the faculty whether he 
ought not to be dismissed at once. Sheridan was aware 
of this, but the danger of disgrace could not drive the 
" spirit of deviltry " out of him. Toward the close of the 
term, however, he aroused himself, and, by exercising a 
strong control over his temper, reduced somewhat the 
number of his monthly fights, and won the sympathy of 
some of his teachers, who, seeing his struggles, overlooked 



462 MAJOR-GENERAL PHILIP HENRY SHERIDAN. 

many of his slips, so that Avhen the day caine for the class 
to graduate, he was found to lack just five 'points of the 
number that would exclude him from the honor of grad- 
uation. It was true, as he has often said since, that he 
"got through with the skin of his teeth," He ran a nar- 
row chance of not being a major-general in the army. 
There being no vacancy, he received the appointment of 
only brevet seco?ic/-lieutenant in the First Infantry, and 
was sent to Texas. Here he took his first practical les- 
sons in war from the Comanche Indians, and was actively 
eno-ao-ed ao;ainst them for two vears. He was stationed 
at Fort Duncan, around which the Indians constantly 
prowled. One day Sheridan was a short distance from 
the entrance, outside, with two soldiers, when a band of 
Apaches suddenly appeared between them and the fort. 
The soldiers had their guns, but Sheridan was without 
arms, and for a moment was undecided what to do. But 
just then he saw the Apache chief dismount from his 
mustang, and creep stealthily toward the soldiers a little 
distance off, to make sure of his pre}'. In an instant his 
resolution- was taken; and with a leap and a bound, 
he darted toward the mustang, that stood unfastened 
where the chief had left him. The Indian was so occu- 
pied with the soldiers before him, and Sheridan's move- 
ments were so quick, that the latter was astride of the 
mustang before his purpose was even detected. Putting 
the fiery little beast to the top of its speed, he sprang on 
a wild gallop into the fort, shouting that the Indians were 
upon them. Dashing up to his own quarters, he called 
for his pistols without dismounting. Seizing them, he 
wheeled and rushed out of the fort at the same headlong 
speed with which he had entered it. Wliile the alarmed 
o;arrison was mounting in hot haste to follow, he reached 



KILLS AN INDIAN CHIEF. 463 

the spot where the soldiers were endeavoring to hokl the 
savages at bay ; and riding boldly up to the chief, shot 
him dead. Turning to the other Indians, he was charg- 
ing down on them, just as the soldiers arrived ; when to- 
gether the}^ dashed amid the savages and rode them down 
without mercy, killing nearly the whole of them. Soon 
after, he was made second lieutenant in the Fourth Infan- 
try, and sent to join his regiment in Oregon. While 
waiting for recruits, however, he for two months had 
charge of Fort Wood, New York. 

Having arrived in the new State, he took command 
of an escort for Lieut. Williamson's exploring expedition, 
sent along the coast from Columbia River to San Fran- 
cisco for the purpose of kmng out a route for a railroad 
between the two pomts. Williamson, in his report, gave 
him high praise. In the same autumn he accompanied 
Major Raines (afterwards the rebel general) in an expedi- 
tion against the Yokima Indians. At the Cascades of 
Columbia he had a fight with them, in which he behaved 
with such gallantry that he was noticed in general orders. 
This was in the spring of '56, and he was, a few weeks 
afterwards, put in command of the Yokima reservation, 
and selected a site for a military post in the Seletz Val- 
ley. His treatment of the Indians and negotiations with 
them were so prudent and judicious, that he settled the 
difficulties between them and the whites, and was compli- 
mented by Scott for his conduct. 

In 1857 he built a post at Yamhill, Washington Ter- 
ritory, and from that time till the breaking out of the re- 
bellion was actively engaged with the Indians in the 
mountain ranges. These three years of hardship and 
toil, and often of suffering, made his naturally compact 
fi'ame firm as iron. The perils, also, which he encounter 



464 MAJOR-GENERAL PHILIP HENRY SHERIDAN. 

ed, and the risks he ran, were a good preparatory school 
for the daring role he was destined to play in the coming 
war. Sometimes for days he would toil through these 
dreary mountain ranges, with no food but the grasshop- 
pers he caught, and once for two weeks carried his entire 
provisions for the whole time wrapped up in a blanket 
strapped upon his shoulders. 

At the breaking out of the war, the Southern officers 
began to resign in great numbers, which left vacancies 
for those lower in grade faster than a battle, and Sheri- 
dan was promoted in the winter of 1861 to first lieu- 
tenant, and ordered east. The regular army being soon 
afterward increased, he was made Captain in the 13th, 
and ordered to join it in Jefi'erson barracks, Missouri, 
where it was stationed. Speaking of his promotion at 
this time, he jokingly remarked, that "he was sixty- 
fourth captain on the list, and with the chances of war 
thought he might soon be a major.'' He had not yet 
dreamed of major-general. In fact, no one who knew 
him anticipated any such elevation, for while his energy, 
determination, and valor were well known, he had not 
the reputation of possessing a head for extensive combi- 
nations, or, indeed, for strategy of any kind. But he 
was»entering on a war in which quick, resolute action, and 
indomitable energy and courage, would be needed as 
much as well-laid plans. 

Soon after his arrival in Jefi^erson, he was made presi- 
dent of the board appointed to audit the claims growing 
out of Fremont's administration. This duty being ac- 
complished, he was made chief quartermaster and com- 
missary of the army, assembling for an expedition into 
Southwestern Missouri, with orders to report to General 
Curtis. With his limited experience, he could, of course, 



PLACED UNDER ARREST. 4G5 

have but little idea of the magnitude of the preparations 
necessary to maintain an army even of the size of that Df 
Curtis. Still, whatever he did was thoroughly doue, 
and he established depots at Springfield and Holla, and 
organized trains and transportation ; but one whose ra- 
tions for days had been the grasshoppers he caught, and 
whose provision train for two weeks consisted of a blanket 
rolled up on his shoulders, could not be expected to fall 
in with the views entertained at the outset of the war, 
that every regiment should have a train big enough for a 
whole corps ; and he remonstrated against the exorbitant 
requisitions made on him. Of course he was bitterly de- 
nounced by some, but he was resolute, and remorselessly 
cut doAvn the regimental trains. 

He remained at Springfield superintending the gather- 
ing and forwarding of supplies, etc., while Curtis was 
struggling over the broken country towards Pea Ridge. 
Alter the battle there, the latter was in pressing need of 
horses — the long marches and severe cold having thinned 
off his animals sadly. He could not advance without 
them, and so he ordered the quartermaster to seize them 
wherever they could be found, and send them on at once, 
giving the owners vouchers for them. Sheridan, who 
had been exasperated by the depredations of some of.our 
troops, and no notice taken of his complaint, seemed to 
look on this order as compelling him to do something 
very similar himself, and in a letter referring to both, used 
language more distinguished for strength of expression 
than for propriety, saying, contemptuously, that he was not 
a "ja}'hawker." Curtis at once ordered him to be placed 
under arrest, with directions to report at St. Louis. 

In the meantime Halleck had been sent to take com- 
mand in the West, and in March, 18 G 2, he made Sheri- 



466 MAJOR-GENERAL PHILIP HENRY SHERIDAN. 

dan Chief Quartermaster of the Western Department, 
with the rank of major. 

But being in pressing need of good cavalry officers, 
he released him from his duties and made him captain of 
the Second Michigan Cavalry, and sent him to join the 
expedition under Colonel Elliott, the object of which was 
to destroy the Mobile and Ohio Railroad at Booneville, 
thirty miles south of Corinth. He returned just in time 
to take part in the pursuit of the retreating army of Bragg, 
after its evacuation of Corinth. 

In June he was placed in command of a cavalry bri- 
gade, and ordered to take position at Booneville, twenty 
miles in advance of the army, to cover its front and look 
alter the rebels hovering in that vicinity. Arriving at 
the place, he pitched his camp on the edge of a swamp to 
protect his rear, but he had been in it scarcely three days 
before the rebel General Chalmers, who had been inform- 
ed of his movements, moved upon it with a force number- 
ing five or six thousand men. Sheridan advanced to 
meet him with his single brigade, but seeing how fearfully 
he was outnumbered, after a little skirmishing, fell back 
to his camp. But he saw clearly that he could not re- 
main here long, for the enemy in a short time could com- 
pletely surround him, and he resorted to his old Indian 
tactics to extricate himself. Detaching ninety men, he 
sent them on a detour of four miles to the rebel rear with 
dir.3ctions, at a given time, to fall on the enemy, while he, 
at the same moment, would charge in front. Everything, 
jf course, depended on the movement being a surprise, 
for the least preparation would be sufficient to repel the 
attack of that mere squad of ninety men. The enemy, 
fortunately, did not detect it, and these ninety men ariaed 
with carbines, revolvers, and sabres, arrived in the enemy'si 



VICTORY AT BOONE VILLE. 467 

rear without being discovered, and announced their pre- 
sence by a simultaneous volley. The next moment swing- 
ing their weapons to their backs, they drew their sabres, 
and the bugles pealing the charge, they came down with 
the shout of" a host. At the same time Sheridan ordered 
his bugles to sound, and charging furiously in turn on the 
ranks thrown suddenly into disorder by this unexpected 
attack in rear, routed the whole army, which fled in wild 
terror over the fields. Throwing away arms, knapsacks, 
coats and everything that could impede their flight, they 
kept on for twenty miles, hotly pursued by Sheridan, who 
was never known to give a fleeing foe a moment's breath- 
ing space. 

Grant, in reporting this brilliant aff*air to the War 
Department, recommended his promotion, and he was 
made Brigadier-General, to date from July 1st, the day 
of the battle. 

He remained at this post two months, when he was 
sent with other troops to reinforce Buell, then on his way 
to Nashville and Louisville to repel the invasion of Bragg. 
Buell assigned him to the command of the Third Division 
of the Army till he reached Louisville, when he was placed 
over the Eleventh Division. 

When Kosecrans superseded Buell, and moved on 
Murfreesboro, Sheridan was given the command of one 
of the divisions of McCook's Corps, constituting the 
right wing of the army, and in the battle that followed 
showed his great qualities as a fighting general. The 
overwhelming attack of the rebels on the extreme right 
of McCook's division, struck Johnson first, and rolled his 
shattered division in wild tumult over the field. The 
shouting victorious rebels keeping on their headlong way, 
next fell on Davis, who ^vas also caught unprepared, and 

30 



468 MAJOR-GENERAL PHIlilP HENRY SHERIDAN. 

sweeping him from their path, then bore do^^n like an 
inundation on the last division of the right wing, com- 
manded by Sheridan. He was not taken by surprise, 
and here for the first time the enemy was brought to a 
halt As the dense battalions moving en echelon pressed 
upon his batteries, he mowed them down with a terrible 
fire. Hurled back, they again advanced with increased 
numbers and louder shouts, but could not start that rock- 
fast division from the spot where Sheridan had planted it. 
But at length the assaulting columns following up the 
broken divisions, swarmed around both his flank and rear, 
and he was compelled to change front, till he fought on 
two sides of a square at the same time. The sudden 
peril which now confronted him and the whole army, 
aroused all the lion of his nature, and forgetful of his 
own life he galloped amid the desolating fire, calling on 
his troops with a torrent of oaths and appeals to stand 
firm ; and they did stand, and thus gave Rosecrans time 
to bring over the divisions from the left to stay the reverse 
tide of battle. When a regiment reported out of ammu- 
nition, he ordered it to maintain its position with the 
bayonet. Never did a general hold his troops to a hope- 
less contest with greater bravery than he ; for his division 
of a little over six thousand men was literally butchered 
by the overwhelming masses of troops that gathered 
seemingly in endless number on every side of him. Had 
he jaelded at first, like the two other divisions, that army 
before noon would have been a herd of fugitives seeking 
safety in headlong flight. 

Three of his brigade commanders and other subordi- 
Qate officers fell one after another, till seventy-two were 
stretched on the field, and nearly a third of his division 
gone. But though ihe division was being so rapidly 



HEROIC CONDUCT. 469 

annihilated,. it fought on till it had no more ammunition 
to fight with, and then slowly and sullenly fell back, not 
in panic or even disorder, but with shouldered arms, lik(3 
men not yet half beaten. Negiey, who had been pushed 
forward into the thicket to cover his retreat, said: "I 
knew at once it was hell in there before I got in ; but T 
was convinced of it when I saw Phil. Sheridan, with hat 
in one hand and sword in the other, damning and swear- 
ing as if he were the devil incarnate, or had a fresh in- 
dulgence from Father Tracy every five minutes.'"''' 

As they emerged through those dark cedars, Sheridan 
rode up to Rosecrans, and pointing back to his mutilated 
division, said: "Here they are. General, all that is left 
of us ; our cartridge-boxes contain nothing, and our guns 
are empty." With compact ranks he fell steadily back 
for a mile and halted, when, ammunition arriving, he 
wheeled, and again presented the same iron front to the 
foe. He said that although his single division had to 
resist alone the whole rebel attack, "had my ammunition 
held out, I would not have fallen back, although such 
luere my oi^ders if hard pressed."" Rosecrans, feeling that 
his reputation had been saved by Sheridan's firmness, said 
in his report: "General Sheridan is a model officer, and 
possesses in an eminent degree qualities that promise for 
him a brilliant and useful career in the profession of 
arms. * * * The constancy and steadfastness of 
his troops enabled the reserve to reach the right of our 
army in time to turn the tide of battle, and changed a 
threatened rout into a victory. He has fairly won pro- 
motion." This was high praise and worthily bestowed. 
The public dazzled by the victory, did not fully appreciate 
Sheridan's sublime action on this terrible day; but the 

* Tracy was Rosecruns' Roman Catholic chaplain. 



470 MAJOR-GENERAL PHILIP HENRY SHERIDAN. 

Government did, and raised him to the rank of Major 
General of Volunteers. 

In the next summer, when Kosecrans advanced on 
Chattanooga, Sheridan was assigned the duty of driving 
the rebels out of Liberty Gap. Taking a conspicuous 
part in all the movements before that place, he again at 
the battle of Chickamauga suffered from the misfortunes 
and failures of others. When the army was cut in two, 
and the right and centre overthrown, he was necessarily 
borne back with the excited and maddened throng. It 
was useless for him alone to attempt to make a stand, but 
he did, and it was pitiful to see so brave a heart clutch 
with such a despairing effort at victory. He rode amid 
his disordered ranks, the impersonation of high daring, 
and appealed and swore by turns ; but he might as well 
have attempted to arrest a whirlwind, or roll back the 
tide of the ocean, and he was swept away with the head- 
long mass that crowded and cursed and struggled in the 
choked-up road leading to Chattanooga. 

When Grant finally took command, and assaulted the 
enemy in their strong position on Missionary Ridge, 
Sheridan was foremost in the fight. He had felt keenly 
the breaking of his division at Chickamauga, and, riding 
in the advance, he called in thunder tones to his men, 
" Show the Fourth Corps that the men of the old Twen- 
tieth are still alive and can fight. Remember Chicka- 
mauga ! " Ever in the front, and always coolest in the 
moment of the greatest peril, he took a flask from one of 
his aids, filled the pewter cup, and raising his cap to the 
I'ebel battery, mockingly said, " How are you, Mr. 
Bragg ? " never checking for a moment the speed of his 
advance. Six guns responded to the defiant act, and the 
cup was shivered by a bullet while in the act of being 



CAVALRY RAIDS. 471 

pressed to his lips. Coolly remarking, "That's un- 
generous," he spurred forward. On the s .mmit his horse 
was shot under him, and no other being at band, he sprang 
on one of the captured guns and swinging his sword over 
his head, poured a torrent of oaths and invectives after 
the flying rebels that he could not pursue. 

After the pursuit was over he was sent with Sherman 
on the long and weary march to raise the siege of Knoxville 
and relieve Burnside, and then returned to Chattanooga 
and went into winter quarters. 

When Grant was made Lieutenant- General, Sheridan 
was assigned to the command of the cavalry of the Army 
of the Potomac, and at once entered on its organization 
and training for active service. At the commencement 
of the campaign in May, 1864, he protected the flanks of 
Meade's army, and with a select body of troops started 
on an expedition to the rear of Lee to cut ofl^ his com- 
munications and supplies, in the conduct of which he 
showed that, as a cavalry oflicer, he had no superior in 
the army. 

On the 8th of June, he went on another expedition, 
crossing the country from the Rappahannock to the White 
House, and then joined Grant's army south of the James 
Kiver. For the next thirty days he was employed in 
cutting the railroad to the south and southwest of Peters- 
burg. The skill, daring, energy and success of all his 
movements showed him to be fitted for a more responsible 
position. 

Ewell and Early, for the purpose of drawing Grant's 
forces from Richmond, were now sent with a heavy force 
into the Shenandoah Valley, and crossing the Potomac, 
seized Hagersto^oi and Fredericksburg, burnt Chambers- 
burg, threatened Washington and Baltimore, and then 



4'72 MAJOR-GENEUAL PHILIP HENRY SHERIDAN. 

re-crossed into Virginia loaded with plunder. Grant, de. 
termined that nothing should loosen his hold on the rebel 
capital, immediately consolidated the four military de- 
partments of the Susquehanna, Washing-ton, Mononga- 
hela and West Virginia, into one, and put Sheridan 
over it. He was now, for the first time, placed in an in- 
dependent command, where he could have a fair field for 
his great military abilities. To keep Early from falling 
back on Richmond, he hung threateningly along his front 
— now advancing, and when threatened in turn falling 
back on Harpers Ferry, for his forces were not yet all up 
and he did not wish to risk a battle till they were. See- 
ing his hesitation. Early concluded that he was afraid of 
him, and, therefore, determined boldly to cross over again 
into Maryland. Sheridan, watching his opportunity, by 
a skillful manoeuvre, succeeded, after a sharp fight, in get- 
ting between the rebel army and their proper line of re- 
treat, through the gaps of the Blue Ridge to Richmond. 
Having obtained this advantage, he determined to strike 
quick and hard, and force it back toward the southwest. 
Carrying out his purpose, he, three days after, suddenly 
fell on Early, and after a stubborn fight of several hours, 
routed him with great slaughter and sent him " whirling 
through Winchester." Pressing up his advantage, he 
hung relentlessly on the rebel rear for thirty miles, until 
they finally rallied behind their intrenchments at Fisher's 
Hill. Promptly bringing up his weary troops in front of 
this strong position he prepared to finish what he had so 
successfully begun. The Eighth Corps was sent around 
the left of the enemy to attack in rear, the Nineteenth, on 
the other hand, was moved out upon the right flank, while 
the Sixth made a feint attack on the centre. The three 
Corps closing simultaneously on the rebels threw them 



MADE BRIGADIER-GENERAL. 473 

mto utter confusion, and breaking at the centre, they let 
the right corps in between, which dashed the two wings 
from its sides as a strong ship the waves. Overwhelmed 
and disorganized, they broke in utter rout, followed fast 
by our shouting, victorious troops. In the meantime, 
AverilFs Cavalry had been sent on to the base of the 
South Mountain, to fall on them as they fled. This gal- 
lant, energetic commander took up the pursuit, and con- 
tinued, it till tlie rebels were driven beyond Port Republic, 
and, l^roken into irrecoverable fragments, took refuge in 
the Mountains, having in six days lost nearly ten thou- 
sand men, besides a great number of guns, ammunition, 
stores, &c. It was a brilliant victory, and filled the land 
with praises of Sheridan. He was at once made Brigadier- 
General in the regular army, in the place of McPherson, 
who was killed at Atlanta. 

Sheridan now laid waste the Valley of the Shenan- 
doah, burning as he said, a " thousand barns, to prevent 
the hay and forage from falling into the hands of the 
enemy." This is the only stain on his fair fame. The 
destruction of private property is a violation of the rules 
of civilized warfare, of which Grant, Sherman and Thom- 
as would never have been guilty. His excuse was, 
that if he had not destroyed it, it would have fallen into 
the hands of the enemy, and helped to sustain him. This 
was doubtless true, but there are some things to be done 
and to be left undone without regard to consequences. 
The rules of civilized warfare are not based on logic but 
luimanity. The old barbarians used the same logic in 
carrying on their wars, and killed the children because 
they said if they did not, they would grow up to be men 
and heroes to fight them ; and they killed the mothers 
because if left alive they would beget warriors. So far 



474 MAJOR-GENERAL PHILIP HENRY SHERIDAN. 

as the logic of the thing is concerned, the barbarians have 
the best of it, for they carried it out to its legitimate con- 
clusions. The question is not one for argument — it is 
decided by the rules of civilized warfare, which a man is, 
if possible, more bound to obey than he is written 
laws. 

On his return from the raid he was attacked in the 
rear by the rebel General Rosser, with a large body of 
cavalry, when facing about he finished him with one 
tremendous blow, keeping him " on the jump," for twenty- 
six miles. 

In the meantime. Early had been reinforced, and 
burning for revenge, advanced stealthily against Sheridan, 
and attacked him at Cedar Creek. The latter, aware of 
his movements, after amusing him awhile Avith a sharp 
artillery fire, suddenly fell upon him in one of his im- 
petuous onsets, and sent him again in headlong rout up 
the Valley. 

This was on the 12th of October, and Sheridan think- 
ing the enemy was too severely punished to molest him 
for the present, left the army on a short visit to Wash- 



THE VICTORY AT MIDDLETOWN. 

The army at this time was posted on three moderate 
hills, extending for three miles across the country, each 
one a little back of the other. 

The first and foremost one, some four or five miles 
north of Fisher's Hill, was held by the army of West 
Virginia under Crook; the second, half a mile to the 
rear of it, by the Nineteenth Corps, under Emory, the 
turnpike running between them. The third and last, 



A TERRIBLE SURPRISE. 475 

still farther back, was occupied by the Sixth Corps, with 
Torbert's superb cavalry covering its right. 

Early, who had the tenacity of Sheridan, having been 
reinforced by twelve thousand men, and hearing that the 
latter ^ras in Washington, deterniined on a bold and 
liazardous night attack on this position. He kncAv our 
position was impregnable in front, and a flank attack 
gave him the only chance of success ; so having matured 
his plans, he set out at midnight in five columns — march- 
ing toward the left where Crook was posted, while his 
light artillery and cavalry were sent to the right to make 
a feint against the Sixth Corps. There was a dense fog 
at the time, wrapping everything in impenetrable dark- 
ness; but Early knew the ground thoroughly, and with 
trusty guides was in no danger of being misled. He 
ordered all the men to leave their canteens behind, lest 
their clanking against the shanks of the bayonets should 
be heard by our pickets and give the alarm. His march 
was to be noiseless, and he directed that all the orders 
should be given in a low tone, for although the movement 
must be made with an army of between twenty and 
thirty thousand men, it must be with the stealthiness of 
an Indian on his war-path ; discovery would be fatal, and 
he knew it. The whole enterprise was hazardous beyond 
expression. He, however, moved off toward our left, 
unperceived, though about two o'clock in the morning, 
some of the pickets on duty reported that they heard a 
heavy muffled tramp and rustling through the under- 
brush, as though a multitude was moving along the front. 
This information caused some precautions to be taken, 
but no reconnoissance was sent out. The truth is, a seri- 
ous attack by Early was not dreamed of, and the main 
army slumbered on wholly unsuspicious of danger. 



470 major-c;eneral philip henry sheridan. 

All this time the steady ccjluinns were sweeping on 
through the glo(:tm, noAv pushing through the dripping 
trees, and now fordhig a stream — skirting our position for 
miles, till at length, an hour before daybreak, the rebel 
troops, sliivering with cold, stood within six hundi'ed 
) ards of our camps. Just as the dim light began to 
brighten up the fog to the eastward, our bugles rang out 
and the drums beat, for Crook had ordered the day 
before, a reconnoissance to be sent out at daylight toward 
the supposed distant camp of the enemy. The next 
moment there arose a yell from ten thousand throats, 
rending the thick mist like lightning, followed ])y a deaf- 
ening crash of musketry. It broke on that camp like a 
sudden thunder-clap at noonday from a cloudless sky. 
In an instant all was commotion ; the roll of drums, fierce 
buo'le calls, and the shouts of officers were heard on every 
side ; but before any line of battle could be formed the 
shouting, yelling foe was upon them. Up and over the 
hill they ^vent in one wild torrent — a bloody struggle 
of five minutes at the breastworks, a brief massacre, and 
then the gallant army of Western Virginia became a herd 
of fugitives, rolling tumultuously back toward the hill on 
which the Nineteenth Corps lay, a half mile in the rear. 
A few regiments wheeled and tried to make a stand, but 
you might as well have attempted to stop a bursting bil- 
low witli a wand. The Nineteenth Corps made a longer 
struggle, and in some instances the combatants became 
commingled and fought with clubbed nuiskets; but the 
rebels sweeping down along the pike, got in its rear, and 
it too was hurled back to help swell the wreck. The 
only hope now was with the "bloody Sixth," which had 
bad time to take position and confront the victorious 
enemy. A new line was formed, and the enemy met so 




W^^li^ 



FLYING TO THE RESCUE. 477 

irmly, that he halted in his furious, overwhehning onset,, 
and began to advance cautiousij^, and I'eel his way with 
artillery. Besides, many of the troops were plundering 
the camps, and could not be urged forward. Had Wright 
known this, he possibl}^ might here have fought a suc- 
cessful battle ) but the turnpike was in possession of the 
enemy, which so threatened his communications, that the 
whole army was ordered to fall back toward Win- 
chester. 

Five terrible hours had now passed, and the prospect 
looked black enough for that noble army. But at this 
critical moment, Sheridan was seen tearing along the 
road at headlong speed — his mettled horse flecked with 
foam, and he swinging his cap over his head, and shout- 
ing to the bewildered fugitives that crowded the high- 
way, " Face the other way, boys. We are going back to 
our camps. We are going to lick them out of their 
boots." He had slept at Winchester that night, on his 
return from Washington, and roused by the heavy firing 
that told him the army was in a fierce battle without 
its leader, had leaped to the saddle, and spurred madly 
forward. The wounded along the roadside raised a feeble 
shout at the sights — the fugitives wheeled back at the call, 
and moved with kindling eyes to the front. As soon as 
he reached the army, he ordered it to face about, form 
line, and advance to the position it had just left. Then 
fur two hours he rode backwards and forwards along the 
front, noAv looking over the ground, and now encourag- 
ing the men. "Boys," said he, 'if I had been here this 
never should have happened. I tell you it never should 
have happened. And now we are going back to our 
camps. We are going to get a twist on them. We are 
going to lick them out of their boots." Shouts and cheers 



478 MAJOR-GENERAL PHILIP HENRY SHERIDAN. 

followed him, and a new life was infused into the army. 
Discouragement and fear were now gone, and though 
they had eaten nothing since the night before, the brave 
fellows Avere ready for another fight. At length, the rebel 
army was seen moving steadily along the brilliant autum- 
nal woods, advancing against the Nineteenth Corps, and 
Sheridan sent word to Emory to be ready for it. It 
came confidently on till within close range, and then the 
line opened with a swift, deadly volley. A crash and 
roar, and then a lull — and when the smoke slowl}' lifted in 
the clear air, no enemy was in sight. Emory imme- 
diately despatched an aid to Sheridan with the news that 
the enemy was repulsed. " That's good, that's good," 
laughed Sheridan. "Thank God for that. Now, then, 
tell General Emory if they attack him again to go after 
them, and follo^v them up, and to sock it into them, and 
to give them the devil." And with almost every word, 
brino'inix his rioht hand down into the ijalm of his left 
with a sharp blow, he continued, " We'll get the tightest 
twist on them yet you ever saw — we'll have all those 
camps and cannon back again." Having completed his 
preparations, he, at half-past three, gave the order for the 
whole line to advance. The bugles rang out, the drums 
rolled, and the line rose from where it had been lying, 
and, not with shouts and yells, but solemnly and firmly, 
moved through the woods in their front, and out into the 
open fields beyond. The rebels saw the solid advance, 
and sent shot and shell crashing through the ranks — " the 
next moment came a prolonged roar of musketry, mingled 
with the long-dr^wn yell of our charge ; then the artillery 
ceased — the musketry died into spattering bursts, and 
over all the yell triumphant. Everything on the first 
line, the stone walls, the advanced crest, the tangled 



A GREAT VICTORY. 479 

ivood, the half-finished breastworks had been carried.* 
The lull in the tempest, however, was short — the rebels 
opened with their artillery from a new position, while 
Slieridan dashed excitedly along the front, and swiftly 
reorganized the line for a second charge. He trusted this 
work to no subordinate ; he gave all his orders to corps, 
division, and brigade commanders in person. His face 
wore a confident smile, wliile in his short, energetic sen- 
tences he told the soldiers that they had them now — that 
the rebels would be " licked out of their boots." Soon, 
everytliing being read}-, he oi'dered the secoiid charge. 
Through thickets, over ridges and stone walls, shouting 
and yelling, the entliusiastic soldiers went like troops 
just brought into action, instead of those which, without 
a morsel of food, had fought and marched since daylight 
in the morning. As one of Sheridan's staff officers fol- 
lowed up the first division, and Avatched the yelling, run- 
ning, panting soldiers not firing a shot, but simply dash- 
ing along with parched, open mouths, he exclaimed : 
"Those men are doing all that flesh and blood can." 
This second line was also carried ^\'ith a rush, and the 
enemy forced down into the jMiddletown Meadows, where 
the cavalry could act. The bugles now rang out, and the 
just before victorious, but now overwhelmed and as- 
tonished enemy fled in wild confusion up the Valley. 
Through and beyond our camps which they had swept 
like a whirlwind in the morning, the}^ went pell-mell, leav- 
ing behind the artillery they had captured, and most of 
their own — and scattering small arms, clothing, and ever}'- 
thing that impeded their flight in the way. The tired in- 
fantry soon gave up the |)invsiut, but the cavalry kept on, 
driving them through Strasburg, past Fisher's Hill, and 
next morning on to Woodstock, sixteen miles distant. 



480 MAJOR-GENERAL PHILIP HENRY SHERIDAN. 

in utter confusion. Forty-nine cannon, fifty wagons, 
sixty-iive ambulances, sixteen hundred small arms, and 
fifteen hundred prisoners were the fruits of this splendid 
victory. Our loss was also heavy, being nearly four 
thousand, for the rebels succeeded in carrying oft' over 
two thousand prisoners. 

The field over which this sanguinary, tumultuous 
fight raged presented a sickening spectacle — the dead and 
wounded were everywhere, strewed among dismounted 
guns, wrecked caissons, shivered and bent muskets, and 
horses that seemed innumerable, so thickly was the eartl) 
dotted with them. 

The autumn twilight was deepening when our army 
reached their old camps, into which they filed, in the 
same position they had occupied at daybreak on that event- 
ful morning ; but with sadly diminished numbers. Here, 
tired out, they lay down among the dead and wounded 
to rest. " They had lost everything but what they bore 
on thei r backs or in their hands ; their shelter-tents, knap- 
sacks, canteens, and haversacks had been plundered by 
the i-ebels, and they slept that night as they had fought 
that day, without food." The ofticers at headquarters 
■ were as supperless as the soldiers, for all their baggage 
and rations had been sent on to Winchester during the 
day. Still, gaiety reigned there ; for although the earth 
iii'ound them was cumbered with the dead and wounded, 
their great and unexpected victory awakened the wild- 
est enthusiasm, which was kept at fever height by 
couriers dashing in every few minutes from the pursuing 
cavalry, announcing the capture of guns, flags, and 
prisoners. 

This battle exhibits all the strong points in Sheridan's 
character, and is altogether one of the most remarkable 



GREAT POWER OVER TROOPS. 481 

which was fought during the war. Marengo was lost tc 
Napoleon, but Avon again by the arrival of Desaix with 
his column. Shiloh was lost to Grant, but won again b}' 
the timely arrival of Buell with his trained battalions ; but 
this battle, after it was lost was won by the arrival of 
Sheridan alone, with no reinforcements. By the power 
of his single presence and voice, he called back the fugi- 
rives, whom the drawn swords of the cavalry could not 
arrest, reorganized the shattered army, dissipated despair, 
and breathed in its place enthusiasm and confidence, so 
that though greatly weakened in men and by the loss of 
fifty pieces of artillery, he was able not merely to make 
a successful stand, but to resume a furious offensive. To 
rally the broken army on that disastrous field, to breathe 
into it, half-starved and exhausted as it was, a spirit that 
enabled it to assault its victorious enemy behind his de- 
fences, and drive him in utter rout, showed the very 
highest (pialities of a military commander, and fully justi- 
fied the high praise of the lieutenant-general, who said : 
" It stamps Sheridan v/hat I have always thought him, 
one of the ablest of generals.'' Soon after he was made 
major-general in the regular army, to fill the place made 
vacant by the resignation of General McClellan. 

Early was now permanently disabled, and Davis, not 
being able to send him any more reinforcements, was com- 
pelled to abandon the Valley of the Shenandoah. 

In six weeks the Sixth Corps returned to the army 
before Richmond, while Sheridan began to organize a 
cavalry force for his great contemplated raid along the 
James Iliver, between Lynchburg and Richmond. Hav- 
ing got everything ready, he started late in February, 
(1865), with fifteen thousand men, splendidly mounted, and 
pushing up the valley, seized Staunton, and near Waynes- 



482 MAJOR-GENERAL PHILIP HENRY SHERIDAN. 

boro routed the remnant of Early's army, captun'ng 
thirteen hundred prisoners, and ve:y nearly the general 
himself^ who had to take to the woods to escape. Thence 
marching southeasterly, be began the destruction of the 
Lynchburg and Virginia Central Railroad, and the James 
Kiver Canal. The former for thirty miles, and the latter 
for more than half that distance were completely broken 
up. These were the main channels of supply to the 
rebel army, and hence their destruction was a source of 
oTeat uneasiness and suffering. Could he have crossed 
the river and destroyed the railroads on the other side, 
and swept round to the south of Petersburg and joined 
Grant's army there, it is ver}^ doubtful if Lee could have 
maintained himself in Richmond. But the enemy de- 
stroyed the bridges, so that he had to keep down the 
north bank of the stream to"\vard the rebel capital. The 
announcement of his approach caused the wildest con- 
sternation, and a strong column was sent out to arrest his 
movements. But bearing off to the left, Sheridan eluded 
his adversary, and arrived safely at the White House. 
After resting here awhile, he, on the 27th of March, safely 
crossed the James River on a pontoon bridge, and joined 
Grant's army. Two days after, with a force of 9,000 
men, he moved off toward Dinwiddle Court House, taking 
the first step in that great movement which was to give 
us Petersburg, Richmond, and Lee's entire army. The 
orders of Grant at first were to make a raid on the South- 
side railroad, and then join Sherman, or act as circum- 
stances might direct. He now changed his mind, and 
directed him to co-operate with the movements of his 
army. The rain falling in torrents made the roads almost 
impassable ; yet Sheridan pushed on, and the next day 
encountered the enemv near Five Forks ; but after a stub- 



BATTLE OF FIVE FORKS. 483 

born figlit, was compelled to fall back to Dinwiddle 
Court House, where he threw up a breast- work of rails. 
Here at midnight the Fifth Corps joined him, and 
feeling strong enough to resume the offensive, he at day- 
break advanced, and drove the enemy back to their en- 
trenchments at Five Forks. He now ordered a com- 
bined attack on the position with both infantry and 
cavalry — the former to swing round upon the rebel flank, 
their vollies of musketry to be the signal for the cavalry 
to charge on the right. In speaking of this brilliant 
movement, he says : " The Fifth Corps, on reaching the 
White Oak road, made a left wheel, and burst on the 
enemy's left flank and rear like a tornado, and pushed 
rapidly on, orders having been given that if the enemy 
was routed, there should be no halt to reform broken lines. 
As stated before, the firing of the Fifth Corps was the 
signal to General Merritt to assault, which was promptly 
responded to, and the works of the enemy were soon car- 
ried at several points by our brave cavalrymen. The 
enemy were driven from their strong line of works, and 
completely routed, the Fifth Corps doubling up their left 
flank in confusion, and the cavalry of General Merritt 
dashing on to the White Oak road, capturing their artil- 
lery and turning it upon them, and riding into their 
broken ranks, so demoralized them, that they made no 
serious stand after their line was carried, but took to 
flight in disorder. Between 5,000 and 6,000 prisoners 
fell into our hands, and the fugitives were driven west- 
ward, and were pursued until long after dark by Merritt's 
and McKenzie's cavalry, for a distance of six miles." 

Thinking that Warren did not sustain him with suffi- 
cient vigor, he suddenly removed him from the command 
of the corps, and gave it to Griffin, 
31 



484 MAJOR-GENERAL PHILIP HENRY SHERIDAN. 

By this victory he separated the portion of the rebel 
force stationed there from the main army, and at once 
wheeled west, on the flank of the enemy's works befor*^ 
Petersburg. These being assailed by Meade's army in 
front, at the same time, and carried, necessitated the evac- 
uation of the place, which in turn compelled that of Rich- 
mond itself, and the hasty retreat of Lee toward Danville. 

The great object now was to cut him off from that 
point, and Sheridan pushed on to Burkesville, the junc- 
tion of the railroads, getting there first. The Second 
and Sixth Corps were sent on to his support, and a fight 
ensued with Ewell, near Amelia Court House, in which 
he and a lai-ge number of generals and ten thousand pris- 
oners were taken. 

Sheridan now pushed the enemy with terrible energy. 
Learning, on the 8th, that at Appomattox Depot, twenty- 
eight miles distant, there were four trains loaded with 
supplies for Lee, he sent a force rapidly forward and 
seized them, with twenty-five pieces of artillery, and a 
large park of wagons, and scattered the rebel cavalry like 
chaff from his path. He says: "The fighting continued 
till after dark, and the enemy being driven to Appomat- 
tox Court House, I at once notified the Lieutenant-Geii- 
eral, and sent word to Generals Ord and Gibbon, of the 
Army of the James, and General Griffin, commanding 
the Fifth Corps, who were in the rear, that, if they pi-ess- 
ed on, there was now no means of escape for the enemy, 
who had reached ' the last ditch."' During the night, al- 
tliough we knew that the remnant of Lee's army was in 
our front, we held fast with the cavalry to what we had 
gained, and ran the captured trains back along the rail- 
road to a point where they would be protected by our in- 
fantry that was coming up. The Twentj'-tburth and 



CLOSING EVENTS. 485 

Fifth Corps, and one division of the Twenty-fifth Ccrps, 
arrived about daylight on the 9th at Appomattox Depot. 

"After consulting with General Ord, who was in 
command of these corps, I rode to the front, near Appo- 
mattox Court House, and just as the enemy in heavy 
force was attacking the cavalry with the intention of 
breaking through our lines, I directed the cavalry, which 
was dismounted, to fall back, gradually resisting the en- 
emy, so as to give time for the infantry to form its lines 
and march to the attack, and when this was done, to 
move off to the right flank and mount. This was done, 
and the enemy discontinued his attack as soon as he 
caught sight of our infantry. I moved briskly around 
the left of the enemy "'s line of battle, which was falling 
back rapidly (heavily pressed by the advance of the in- 
fantry), and was about to charge the trains and the con- 
fused masses of the enemy, when a white flag was pre- 
sented to General Custer, who had the advance, and who 
sent the information to me at once that the enemy desired 
to surrender." 

Sheridan, in these last movements, added greatly to 
his well-earned fame, and exhibited in a remarkable de- 
gree that sleuthhound tenacity with which he always 
hangs on his quarry. In this respect he resembles Grant. 
Tough as iron himself, he needed neither food nor rest 
and seemed to think his horses and men were like him. 
Intent only on striking the enemy, delay from whatever 
cause exasperated him. 

After the war Sheridan was in charge of the depart- 
ment of the Grulf until March, 1867. For a time he was 
in command of the department of the Missouii, with 
headquarters at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. Thence he 
conducted a winter campaign, 1868, against the Indians, 



486 MAJOR-GEXEEAL PHILIP HENRY SHERIDAJT. 

after whicli his headquarters were at Chicago. When 
U. S. Grant became President, March 4th, 1869, General 
W. T. Sherman was made General-in-Chief and Sheri- 
dan was promoted to Lieut.-General, with the under- 
standing that both these titles should disappear with 
the men holding them. In 1870, Sheridan visited Eu- 
rope to witness the conduct of the Franco-Prussian war. 
He was with the German staff during the battle of 
Gravelotte and presented some judicious criticisms of 
the campaign. He commanded the Western and South- 
western military divisions in 1878. On the retirement 
of Sherman in 1883, the Lieut.-General became Gen- 
eral-in-Chief. In May, 1888, he became ill from fron- 
tier exposure, and in recognition of his claims a bill was 
passed by both houses of congress June 1st and prompt- 
ly signed by President Cleveland, restoring for him dur- 
ing his lifetime the full rank and emolument of General 
Shortly after, August 5th, the "hero of an hundred 
battles " died in Nonquitt, Mass., amid the lamenta- 
tions of a grateful republic. 

HIS CHARACTER. 

In person, Sheridan was not very prepossessing. 
Short, nob more than five feet six inches in height, he 
presented somewhat a diminutive appearance, and was 
known among his soldiers as " Little Phil." He was, 
however, stoutly built, and his body being longer in 
proportion than his lower limbs, he appeared taller on 
horseback than on foot. Broad-chested compact and 
firm, with no superfluous flesh on his body, he seemed 
made for endurance. He had a broad but not high fore- 
head, showing the fighter rather than the thinker ; clear 
dark and kindly eyes, modest in his demeanor, he gave, 
in his general appearance, no indication of the thunder- 



HIS CHAKACTER. 487 

bolt he was in battle. There his modesty disappeared, 
and one forgot that he ever had an unassuming man- 
ner — for he rose at once to the greatness and responsi- 
bility of the occasion, and moved and spoke with an 
energy and an air of command that inspired awe. In 
private intercourse, he was genial, frank, and universally 
liked. His tenacity was wonderful ; and reckless of 
danger himself, he inspired his troops with courage, 
where another commander would have totally failed. 
Like Grant and Thomas, he was a rock on the 'fiercely 
contested field, but, unlike them, he was a rock inherent 
with fire, and sending off sparks on every side. His 
action was vehement, and his fiery words were wrenched 
from him in short syllables, and not always in choice 
language. A firmer prop on a great and dowbtful bat- 
tle-field a commander needed not desire, and never will 
find ; for what man can do he Avould accomplish. His 
troops were proud of him, for though he was a strict 
disciplinarian, he cared tenderly for their wants, while 
his name shed a glory over their achievements. In or- 
dinary times he would have lived and died without 
being distinguished for anything but indomitable en- 
ergy in performing any duty assigned him. Circum- 
stances developed his great military qualities, and 
placed him in the front rank of commanders. Still, he 
nowhere exhibited any remarkable strategical ability ; 
but his power of execution was marvellous. He seemed 
to think that a reserve body of troops in battle was en- 
tirely useless, for he invariably brought his entire force 
into the action at the outset. Napoleon practised these 
tactics in some of his first battles ; still the system is a 
hazardous one, and it will not do to act on it univer- 
sally. Sheridan was a natural fighter, and in the smoke 
and turmoil of a heavy conflict was in his element. 



CHAPTER XXIII. 



MAJOR-GENERAL JOHN McALLISTER SCHOFIELD. 



HIS BIRTH AND NATIVITY — GRADUATES AT WEST POINT — INSTRUCTOR AT THE 
ACADEMY — ELECTED PRESIDENT OP WASHINGTON COLLEGE — APPOINTED 
MAJOR — COMMANDS THE MILITIA OF MISSOURI — COMMANDS THE ARMY OF 
THE FRONTIER— ASSESSES DISLOYAL PEOPLE — COMMANDS THE MISSOURI 
DEPARTMENT — COMMANDS ONE OF THE THREE ARMIES OF SHERMAN IN 
THE ATLANTA CAMPAIGN — LEFT TO TAKE CARE OF HOOD — BATTLE OF 
FRANKLIN — BATTLE OF NASHVILLE — ORDERED EAST TO NEWBERN — 
BATTLE OF KINSTON — ENTERS GOLDSBORO — HIS CHARACTER. 

John McAllister Schofield was born in Chautauqua 
County, New York State, September 29tli, 1831, and 
for a young man soon acquired fame. When he was 
twelve years of age his father removed to Illinois, from 
which State he was sent to West Point, where he gradu- 
ated in 1853, at the age of twenty- two, Brevetted second 
lieutenant in the Second Artillery, he was stationed at 
Fort Moultrie, South Carolina, and afterward at Fort 
Capron, Florida. At the end of two years, he was ordered 
to West Point as Instructor in Natural Philosophy, 
where he remained five years, or till the year before the 
breaking out of the war. 

In the meantime (having been appointed first lieuten- 
ant) he received an invitation to become Professor of 
Natural Philosophy in Washington University, St. Louis, 



AT Wilson's creek. 489 

Missouri, and asked leave of absence to accept it. His re- 
quest being granted, he entered on his duties, in the perform- 
ance of wliich the war found him. The War Depart- 
ment at once ordered him to muster into service the 
Missouri troops, and he did so, while, at the same time, 
he was made Major of the First Missouri Volunteers. 
In May he was promoted to captain in the regular army. 

After the battle of Booneville he joined General Lyon 
as assistant adjutant-general and chief of his staff, and in 
this capacity rode beside him in the fiercely fought battle of 
Wilson's Creek. When Lyon was first wounded he turned 
to Schofield and said, " The day is lost." " No," replied 
the latter. " General, let us try once more." They did 
try once more, and the gallant Lyon, charging at the 
head of a regiment, fell dead li'om his dappled gray. 
Young Schofield himself had a narrow^ escape, for a bullet 
took away a portion of his whiskers. 

In November he was commissioned Brigadier-General, 
and assigned to the command of the militia of Missouri, 
authorized bj/ the War Department to be raised for ser- 
vice during the war. He waged a relentless warfare 
against the guerillas, killing some of the leaders and scat- 
tering the bands in every direction. 

When Halleck took command of the army, after the 
battle of Pittsburg Landing, four-fifths of the State was 
[)laced under Schofield, and in June following, the whole 
State. In August, he issued an order assessing $500,000 
upon secessionists and rebel sympathizers in St. Louis 
county, the money to be appropriated in clothing, arming 
and subsisting the militia of the State, and such of their 
families as might be left destitute. 

In October he was placed over the Army of the Fron- 
tier, composed of the troops of Missouri and Arkansas, and, 



490 MAJOR-GENERAL JOHN McALLISTER SCHOFIELD. 

taking the field, soon drove the rebel forces out of the 
State into the valley of Arkansas, defeating Hindman 
near Pea Ridge, and pursuing him over the Boston 
Mountain. 

In February, 1864, Schofield relieved Foster at 
Knoxville, and continued in command of that impor- 
tant post until the following spring. When Sherman 
organized the Atlanta campaign, he put him over 
that division of his force called the " Army of the 
Ohio," numbering 13,559 men, with twenty-eight guns. 
He now had a fair opportunity to show his great qualities 
as a military leader — and in the long marches, difficult 
manoeuvres and fierce fighting that followed, handled his 
army with a skill and success that at once arrested the 
attention of Sherman. At Kenesaw Mountain, around 
Atlanta, in that wonderful movement by which the army 
was swung upon the Macon Road, Schofield moved his 
troops with a precision and ability that elicited the highest 
applause. So highly did he estimate his capacity, that 
when he afterwards determined on his Georgia campaign 
and sent Thomas to Nashville to gather up an army with 
which to take care of Hood, he placed Schofield in com- 
mand of all the forces in the field opposed to the rebel 
General, consisting of the Fourth and Twenty-fourth 
Corps. This was a responsible and hazardous position, 
for Hood outnumbered him heavily; yet, his business 
was to retard the march of the latter northward as much 
as possible, and so give Thomas, at Nashville, time to 
gather in his troops. The rebel commander, on hearing 
that Sherman had fallen back to Atlanta, at once resolved 
to push forward to Nashville ; so, about the 20th of No- 
vember, he crossed the Tennessee and marched straight for 
Pulaski. Schofield, skirmishing as he retired, fell back 



BATTLE OF FRANKLIN. 491 

across Duck River, where he made a stand, not intending 
to fight a decisive battle there, but to delay Hood's move- 
ments. The latter, however, pressed him so closely, that 
he had time oiily to destroy the railroad bridge, and set 
fire to his own pontoon bridge, leaving the wreck in the 
han(.s of the enemy, and march swiftly for Franklin, 
eighteen miles from Nashville, in order to get first across 
the Harpeth Kiver. If he succeeded, he was compara- 
tively safe, for he could then fall back, without danger, to 
the works around Nashville. But if Hood reached it first, 
his army would be cut off, and the city, with its vast 
stores, probably fall into the hands of the half-starved, 
ragged army of the rebels. Schofield's immense train 
crippled him sadly, and at one time it was doubtful 
if he could save his artillery and army both. Hood, 
knowing how much was at stake, made desperate efforts 
to reach Harpeth River first, and it was a life and death 
race between the two armies, but Schofield won it nobly. 
Once over the river, he resolved to strike the enemy one 
blow before he took shelter in the works before Nasliville, 
and, rapidly gathering up his forces, threw up breast- 
works and awaited his approach. 

At four o'clock, on the last day of November, Hood 
made an overwhelming attack on the centre of Schofield's 
position, which at first was successful, and Wagner, who 
commanded here, was driven back in great confusion to 
the main lines. The reserve was quickly brought up, and 
the advance of Hood checked by a most stubborn resist- 
ance. From that time on until dark, the enemy, though 
they came on with a desperation and disregard of death 
that were marvellous, were mowed down by grape and 
canister, almost in battalions. More heroic valor \\'as 
never exhibited than was shown here by the rebels. 



492 MAJOR-GENERAL JOHN McALLISTER SCHOFIELD. 

Laid ill frightful swaths in front of Schofield's breast- 
works, yet they came on in new lines, determined to 
win the victory. They advanced their flags to the very 
crests of our works, yet could not carry them. Like 
wreaths of mist the gray lines melted away, until six 
thousand men lay stretched on the open ground in front 
of the entrenchments. 

Throughout this terrible battle Schofield bore himself 
grandly. Cool and steady, he was everywhere present, 
holding his men to the shock with invincible firmness. He 
could bring but a portion of his army into the fight, as he 
had to detail a large force to guard his trains, which made 
him very inferior to the enemy, but he not only held his 
position, but inflicted a loss on him six times as great as 
he himself suffered. Although the decisive battle was 
yet to be fought, he, nevertheless, taught the rebel general 
a bitter lesson, relieved him of nearly a quarter of his army 
and thirteen major and brigadier-generals, and gave 
Thomas more time, which he needed sadly. 

When night put an end to the contest, he continued 
his retreat to Nashville, having lost in all only about two 
thousand men. 

In the subsequent battle of Nashville, that occurred 
some two weeks later, Schofield commanded the Twenty- 
third Corps, and, on the first day, acted mostly as a 
reserve, though just at evening he swung out on the right 
of Smith, who had been rolling up Hood'5 left, and got 
his men well to work before night put a stop to the con- 
flict. The next day, Thomas -svould not let his infantry 
advance on the new position that Hood had taken up, 
until he heard from his cavalr}^, which he had sent in a 
wide circuit to the rebel rear. At four o'clock in the af- 
ternoon a prolonged fire of rifles and carbines announced 



BATTLE OF NASHVILLE. 493 

its arrival at the desired point. The decisive moment 
had at last come, and Thomas, in his unperturbable way, 
turning to his aids, said, " Now tell Generals Schofield 
and Smith to advance." • Away they dashed on a wild 
gallop, but they came too late, for these two generals no 
sooner heai-d the fire in the rebel rear than they ordered 
a general assault. With levelled bayonets and high-ring- 
ing cheers they moved swiftly on the rebel position, and 
though swept by a irfost murderous fire, never faltered 
for a moment. For a short time it was frightful work. 
" The hills shook, the earth trembled, and the whole field 
was like the sulphurous and gaping niouth of hell," for 
the whole rebel line was a sheet of fire, and " ablaze with 
the musketry and roar of cannon," but in half an hour it 
was over, and the whole rebel army in full retreat. 

This great decisive battle disposed of the last rebel 
army in the Valley of the Mississippi, east of that river, 
so that little was left for Thomas' army to do, and Sher- 
man ordered Schofield east to assist him. By the able 
management of Gov. Parsons, his whole corps was 
brought to the Potomac in mid-winter in fourteen days, 
a distance of some 1,500 miles, Avithout the loss of a man 
or animal. 

He was immediately transferred ''.o Wilmington, and 
afterwards to Newbern, to cooperate with Sherman in his 
march through the Carolinas. Furnished with every 
means of completing the railroads as he advanced, he, in 
March, pushed inland to meet his old commander at Golds- 
boro\ On the 10th, when near Kinston, the rebels made 
a sudden attack upon him, capturing two or three small 
o-uns, and a line of skirmishers. Elated with this success, 
they came down with great fury on his entrenchments, and 
endeavored, by an overwhelming onset, to pierce his centre 



494 MAJOR-GENERAL JOHN McALLISTER SCHOFIELD. 

Repulsed, tliey came on again and again, but finally re- 
treated, leaving their dead and wounded in our hands, 
besides several hundred prisoners. They made another 
stand at Kinston, but, outgeneraled by Schofield, agpin 
retreated, when the latter occupied it. He now kept on 
up the river, and in the latter part of the month entered 
Goldsboro', a day or two before Sherman, and within a 
few hours of the time appointed by the latter. It is said 
that when the soldiers who had ft-aversecl Georgia and 
the Carolinas saw again their old comrades of the West, 
with whom they had parted six months before, an excit- 
ing scene followed, and cheer after cheer rent the air. 

The surrender of Lee, followed by that of Johnston 
soon after, closed the war, and in the division of the 
country into military departments, Schofield was assigned 
to that of North Carolina. 

After the war, June, 1865, he was sent to Europe in 
regard to the French intervention in Mexico. Return- 
ing the next year, he succeeded Stanton as Secretary of 
War under President Johnson, and remained under 
Grant till 1869, when he was ordered to the Depart- 
ment of the Missouri. He was in command of the 
Pacific Division from 18T0 till '76. He was appointed 
Superintendent of West Point in 1876, remaining till 
]882, when he was placed over the Division of the 
Pacific. In 1882 he succeeded Greneral Sheridan in 
command of the Division of Missouri and in 1886 was 
assigned the command of the Atlantic. He is now the 
senior Major-General in the army, and was assigned 
this command in 1888, and will remain so, his life per- 
mitting, till 1895, w^hen he will retire under the law 
fixing the age of service at sixty-four. In 1873 he was 
president of the Board of Inquiry that at last removed 



HIS CHARACTER. 495 

the stigma that personal and political hate had placed 
on the name of General Fitz John Porter. 

HIS CHARACTER. 

General Schofield was one of the most promising 
generals in the army — having shown great capacity in 
the field, and those sterling qualities on which a per- 
manent reputation is built. With great forecast and 
sagacity, he never committed blunders, while his cool 
self-possession, and quick eye in battle, made him a 
dangerous antagonist. 

Major Nichols, an aid of Sherman, says, " General 
Schofield is a gentleman of fine address and elegant 
manners. There is nothing of the plausible sycophant 
either in his words or actions. He listens well, talks 
but little, and appears to reflect and carefully weigh 
both what he hears and says. At the first view of his 
round, well-developed head, his resolute mouth, and 
calm, reflective eyes, one is impressed with the idea that 
he is in the presence of a statesman, rather than a sol- 
dier. Perhaps Schofield partakes of the character of 
both. His brilliant military history proves him to be a 
superior soldier. He possesses not only will and pur- 
pose, but he is perfectly versed in tliat technical 
knowledge of his profession, without which will is al- 
most valueless. While he may not be gifted v.dth that 
dash and spirit which characterize other commanders, 
he has a calm assurance, and sober judgment, which are 
never disturbed, even in the hour of repulse and disas- 
ter, and which is quick to seize the moment when suc- 
cess wrung from doubt carriesj the victoiy." 



CHAPTER XXIV. 



MAJOR-GENERAL WILLIAM B. HAZEN. 



HIS ANCESTRy— NATIVITY — EARLY OCCUPATION — ENTERS WEST POINT — 
SERVES AGAINST THE INDIANS IN CALIFORNIA — SENT TO TEXAS — WOtTND- 
ED IN A FIGHT WITH THE CAMANCHES — RETURNS HOME— IS APPOINTED 
PROFESSOR AT WEST POINT -MADE COLONEL OF AN OHIO REGIMENT — 
SERVES UNDER BUELL — GALLANTRY AT SHILOH— PURSUES BRAGG THROUGH 
THE CUMBERLAND MOUNTAINS — HIS GALLANT CONDUCT IN THE BATTLE 
OF MURPREESBORO — HOLDS THE TENNESSEE RIVER — AT CHICKAMAUGA — 
SEIZES brown's ferry— a NIGHT SCENE— GALLANT CHARGE UP MISSION- 
ARY RIDGE — SENT TO RELIEVE KNOXVILLE— ATLANTA AND GEORGIA 
CAMPAIGNS — STORMING OF FORT m'aLLISTER — TAKES PART IN THE CAM- 
PAIGN OF THE CAROLINAS — HIS CHARACTER. 

It is a curious fact, that scarcely a great general in 
the war could trace his descent from any of the distin- 
guished officers of the Revolution. The country is full 
of their descendants in a more or less direct line, and 
many of them were found in the army ; yet the great 
leaders were almost uniformly new men. General 
Hazen, however, was an exception to this rule, for his 
great grandfather was the first brigadier-general commis- 
sioned in the Federal army of the Revolution, and as the 
companion of Ethan Allen and Putnam, bore a noble part 
in that great struggle. His son married a descendant of 
" old Put," so that the General Hazen on both sides, 
had a patriotic ancestry. True to his noble lineage, the 



WOUNDED BY THE INDIANS. 497 

father of the subject of this sketch has had his three sons 
and a grandson, all that were capable of bearing arms, in 
the recent Union army. 

William B. Hazen was born in Hiram, Portage 
County, Ohio, in 1833, and was one of a family of six, 
three sons and three dauo'hters. His father heiwj- a 
farmer, he was reared to the same occupation, and receiv- 
ing only a limited education, passed his early years in 
hard labor on the farm. But on becoming of age, he 
determined to get a place in the military school at West 
Point ; but his application and efforts to obtain admis- 
sion were fruitless for a long time, so that when he finally 
succeeded, he was within two weeks of the age that would 
have forever excluded him. Entering in 1851, he gradu- 
ated in 1855, and was appointed brevet second lieutenant 
in the Fourth United States Infantry. Two months 
later, he was made second lieutenant in the Eighth In- 
fantry while on his way to join his regiment then serving 
in Oregon and California, and which he found at Fort 
Inge, on the liead waters of the Sacramento. The war 
Avith the Indians had alreadj' commenced, and the very 
next day after his arrival, he marched with his company 
to Fort Lane, Rouge river, where tlie fighting was most 
serious. This was in October, 1856, and he kept the 
field till the next April, taking his first lessons in the 
profession he was destined to adorn. He then was trans- 
terred to the Eighth Infantry, in Texas, and sent against 
the Camanches, who were committing depredations in the 
westerp part of the State. It required great skill and 
sagacity to operate successfully against these wily fero- 
cious savages, but he pressed them from point to point, 
forcing them to live separate engagements, in the last of 
which (December, 1859,) he whs badly wounded. The 



498 MAJOR-GENERAL WILLIAM B. HAZEN. 

ball passed through his left hand, and entering the right 
side, finall}^ lodged in the muscles of his back, where it 
yet remains, or was there as late as the battle of Stone 
River. 

His little band bore him tenderly back over the deso- 
late region where he fell ; but it was eight days before 
they reached a settlement. Here he lay for many weeks 
a helpless invalid, undergoing repeated surgical opera- 
tions in the vain endeavor to find and extract the bullet 
He was not able to be moved till the next February, 
18 GO, when he started for the North. Before he left, the 
people held a public meeting in San Antonio, at which 
highly complimentary resolutions were passed, and an 
elegant sword presented him as a token of th eir apprecia- 
tion of the great services he had rendered the frontier 
inhabitants. 

Still suffering from his wound after he reached home, 
he asked and obtained a year's leave of absence, with 
permission to travel in Europe. In the meantime, he 
was brevetted first lieutenant, for meritorious services. 
At the expiration of his furlough he reported himself 
and applied for service, although he still carried his arm in 
a sling. In February, just before the inauguration of 
President Lincoln, he was appointed Assistant Professor 
of Infantry Tactics at West Point. In A]3ril, he was 
promoted to first lieutenant in the Eighth Infantry, and 
soon after made captain. The loud call of his country 
for men, and the wide field which had opened for distinc- 
tion in his profession, made his duties at West Poi^it irk- 
some to him, and he applied for active employment. His 
application was refused, and he was compelled to sit still 
and see his old companions rising to rank and renown 
around him. But when the call ±br 300,000 troops was 



CHARGE AT SHILOH. 499 

made, men of influence in Ohio took up his case, deter- 
mined to have him an officer m the army of volunteers, 
which the State was raising. They succeeded in gettmg 
his release from West Point, and he was made Colonel 
of the Forty-First Kegnnent of Volunteers, then organ- 
izing at Cleveland. When he joined it in the middle of 
September, its ranks were not half full ; but by his energy, 
he soon had it ready for the field. Gallipolis, on the 
Ohio, being threatened by the rebels from Western Vir- 
ginia, he was ordered thither ; but in December, he took 
his command to Louisville, where Buell was organizing 
his army. Being a rigid disciplinarian himself, Buell soon 
discovered the merits of Hazen, whose severe, thorough 
drill had already made his battalion a model one, and he 
placed him in command of the Nineteenth Brigade of 
the Army of the Ohio — Nelson's division. He moved 
with Buell to Nashville, and thence across the country to 
Pittsburg Landing, arriving on the evening of the first 
day's disastrous fight, and was hurried across the river 
and put in line of battle. His skirmishers opened the 
engagement next morning, and when the battle became 
general, he led his brigade in a charge so fierce and re- 
sistless that he drove the first line of the enemy back on 
the second, and forcing this also back, captured a battery. 
Nearly one third of his entire command was struck down 
in this brilliant charge. 

He continued to serve as brigade commander during 
all the subsequent operations against Corinth, and after- 
wards with Buell, in his movements in Northern Missis- 
sippi, Alabama, and Kentucky. In the pursuit of Bragg^ 
out of the latter State, he led the advance of Crittenden's 
corps, and for eight days pushed the rebel rear guard un- 
remittingly, and finally drove it through the passes of the 

32 



500 MAJOR-GENERAL WILLIAM B. HA ZEN. 

mountabs. When Rosecrans superseded Buell he still 
retained his command, serving as brigadier, though still 
only a colonel. 

At the battle of Stone Kiver, or Murfreesboro, he 
greatly distinguished himself. His brigade, of Palmers 
division, was posted on the extreme left, and held its po- 
sition all that terrible day, serving as a pivot, on which 
the army swung disorderly back before the fierce onsets 
of the enemy. At last the storm, which carried every- 
thing with it, struck this division also. It was a moment 
of extreme peril — " Clouds of soldiers breaking from the 
woods across the open fields to the right and rear, artil- 
lery, with the horses goaded to a run, flying from the 
rapidly-pursuing foe," was the spectacle presented to his 
view ; while the rebels, in double lines, were seen moving 
steadily down in front. Hazen's brigade now showed 
the efi^ect of thorough discipline. " Down upon Palmer s 
division came the rebels like an avalanche — Croft, in the 
wood to the right of the pike is overpowered, leaving 
hundreds on the field, and exposing the right of Hazen's 
brigade." Sending off in hot haste for help — saying, that 
assistance must be given at once or his brigade would be 
sacrificed; as the position must not and w^ould not be 
given up while a man remained to hold it, for if that was 
lost, all was lost, he turned to one regiment that was 
out of ammunition, and ordered it to fix bayonets ; 
another, that had no bayonets, to club their guns, and 
hold their ground at all hazard. The brave fellows re- 
plied with loud cheers, and boldly confronted the enemy. 
Then, galloping off to bring up the Ninth Indiana, he led 
them on the double quick through the desolating fire. A 
cannon shot in full sweep crashed through the ranks, 
making a fearfuJ rent ; but they closed up without check- 



A GALLANT STAND. 501 

ing step. The Forty-First Ohio now retired, as though 
on parade, cheering, and at the same time crying for 
cartridges. Ammunition at length arrived, with rein- 
forcements from Grove's brigade, when bracing up his 
lines, Hazen stood firm as a rock. Again and again the 
rebels, determined to carry this last position at all haz- 
ard, came down in overwhelming numbers. But the con- 
centrated fire that smote them was too hot and awful for 
flesh and blood to stand, and the last time they entered 
it, all but one regiment halted and recoiled. This kept 
breasting it with the loftiest daring, and pushed on till 
within a hundred and fifty yards of the line. At last, 
with " every mounted officer and half of its men shot 
down, it threw itself flat upon the ground, unable to ad 
vance, and not daring to retreat in line." Hazen, who 
was constantly at the point of greatest danger, had his 
horse shot under him, while a bullet bruised his shoulder, 
yet still rode amid his brigade, a toAver of strength. 

After a long lull in the battle, Bragg, enraged to see 
victory slipping from his grasp, determined to make one 
more effort to dislodge Hazen. The latter, speaking of 
this, says, " About four o'clock the enemy again advanced 
upon my front in two lines. The battle had hushed, and 
the dreadful splendor of this advance can only be con-^ 
ceived, as all description must fall vastly short. His 
right was even with my left, and his left was lost in the 
distance. He advanced steadily, as it seemed to certain 
victory. I sent back all my remaining staff successively 
to ask for support, and braced up my own lines as per- 
fectly as possible." Calm and stern, he watched the 
steady, firm apj^roach, waiting till the enemy was in close 
range, when the order to fire ran along the line. One 
unbroken sheet of flame — one crashing volley followed, and 



502 MAJOR-GENERAL WILLIAM B. HAZEN. 

when the smoke lifted the advancing columns were wheel- 
ing off to the right. This virtually ended the battle, and 
that night his immortal brigade lay down upon the crim- 
son field where it had fought, " the only brigade in the 
army that was not driven from its position/' 

The next day, when Hardee made the desperate at- 
tempt to turn our left flank, Hazen was sent across the 
river to the aid of Grove. 

In recommending him for promotion, Rosecrans said, 
" Col. W. B. Hazen has been intrusted with the respon- 
sibility of commanding a brigade, perhaps as long as any 
officer in th.e service of similar rank. At Shiloh he dis- 
played marked ability. At Stone E,iver he proved him- 
self a brave and able soldier by the courage and skill he 
displayed in forming and sheltering his troops, and in or- 
o-anizino; and fightino; all the material around him, in 
order to hold his important position." He did not re- 
ceive his commission, however, till April, though Presi- 
dent Lincoln sent in his name three different times for 
promotion. Acting as brigadier for a whole year — en- 
gaged in two great battles, in which he distinguished him- 
self, still the Senate, though making brigadiers by the 
wholesale of men who were never in a fight, refused to 
give him the rank which he was required to hold. A 
few western politicians, flaming with patriotism of their 
own manufacture, were operating against him, filling 
Washington with slanders while he " was Avatching on 
the distant lines." 

On the 2d of April, he headed an expedition agairrst 
Woodbury, surprised a rebel camp there, and dispersed 
the whole force, capturing the entire baggage- train, camp- 
(jquipage, and twenty-five prisoners. " Hazen s brigade" 
noAv became notorious throutrhout Tennessee as invincible. 



A NIGHT EXPEDITION. 503 

Afterwards, when Rosecrans determined to flank 
Chattanooga, by crossing the Tennessee below Lookou* 
Mountain, he placed about 7,000 troops under Hazen, 
with directions to watch all the crossings, and make the 
enemy believe that a large army was still on the north 
bank of the river. This force Hazen scattered along a 
distance of seventy miles, and yet so skilfully did he 
manage it, now by appearing with strong columns simul- 
taneously at different fords, and now by the arrangement 
of his camp-fires, the beating of calls, and handling of his 
artillery, that the enemy was completely deceived, until 
the main army was far to the south of him. 

At the battle of Chickamauo;a, he rendered ffreat ser- 
vice by placing, in a critical moment, a heavy battery 
that checked the advance of the enemy. 

When Grant took command at Chattanooga, and de- 
termined to seize Brown's Ferry, nine miles below, by the 
bend of the river, in order to shorten his land transporta- 
tion, and thus obtain supplies to the army, for which it 
was suffering, and at the same time secure a base for fu- 
ture operations, he selected Hazen and his brigade for the 
hazardous enterprise. The south shore of the river was 
so thoroughly defended, that any attempt to throw a force 
across by pontoon bridges was impracticable. It was 
therefore determined to float fifty pontoon boats, with 
twenty-five men and one officer in each, making in all 
twelve hundred and fifty men, down the stream by night, 
and effect a landing on the bank, and hold it till a 
force of some four thousand men, concealed on the oppo- 
site shore, could be ferried over. The force would then 
be sufficiently strong to maintain itself till a pontoon 
bridge could be laid, over which reinforcements to any 
required amount could be sent. 



504 MAJOR-GENERAL WILLIA H B. HAZEN. 

On the morning of the 25th of October, Hazen was 
informed by the chief engineer of the army cf the duty 
to which he had been assigned, and the manner in which 
it was to be performed. That whole day he spent in organ- 
izing his parties, and seeing that each boat was put in 
charge of an officer that he coukl rely upon with the most 
implicit confidence. The next morning he went down 
the north shore to a point opposite where the landing was 
to be effected, and critically examined the locality. To 
the left of the ferry house were two hills, which it was 
necessary he should occupy, on which there was a rebel 
picket post, and also one in the hollow between them. 
Having finished his examination, he arranged his plan of 
operations, attending to everything personally, as the en- 
terprise was to be a hazardous one. Each boat load of 
twenty-five men was to carry two axes, making in all a 
hundred ; and, as soon as the crest of those hills at the 
ferry was reached, skirmishers were to be thrown out, and 
the hundred axes at once set to work felling trees to make 
an abattis. He also selected points on the north bank 
of the river, where, at the proper time, signal fires were 
to be kindled, to guide him in effecting a landing. The 
fifty boats, made of "rough boards roughly nailed to- 
gether," were divided into four distinct commands, over 
which tried and distinguished officers were placed, who, 
after being fully instructed in the duties they were ex- 
pected to perform, were taken down opposite the ferry ; 
and the points of landing, and the position of the enemy, 
etc., all pointed out to them. These in turn, just before 
night, called together the leaders of the separate squads, 
and instructed them in the parts they were expected to 
take, and how each was to act in the confusion that must, 
to a greater or less extent, exist in the gloom and dark- 



A BRILLIANT SUCCESS. 505 

ness of night, when an attack was to be momentarily ex- 
pected. 

Everything at last being arranged, the troops were 
sent to their tents to get an early sleep. At midnight 
they were awakened and marched to the landing, and 
stowed away in the boats. All at length being loaded, at 
three o'clock the silent little fleet pushed off into the 
stream, and catching the current, drifted downward in 
the gloom. It was necessary that the utmost silence 
should be preserved ; for, if the enemy got wind of the 
movement in time, it would be frustrated. Hazen, there- 
fore, with great gratification, saw that the force of the 
current alone, without the use of oars, would take him tc 
the desired point of landing in time, and consequenth 
passed the order that oars should be dispensed w*ith — anc 
the boats without a sound floated rapidly down the river. 
After going three miles, they came under the guns of the 
rebel pickets ; but by keeping in the deep shadow of the 
opposite shore, and maintaining a profound silence, they 
were not discovered, and the hostile sentinels slumbered 
on unconscious of danger, whilst this first step in the 
overthrow of their army was being taken. There was no 
moon, and the waters rippling by, gave no token of what 
was going on out on the dark bosom of the stream. The 
boats passed undiscovered, not only down to opposite the 
place of landing, but the advance ones had actually taken 
to their oars and crossed over, and were within ten feet 
or the shore before any alarm was given. Seeing several 
black masses rapidly approaching the shore, the picket on 
duty hailed, and receiving no answer, fired a volley and 
sent back the alarm. Hazen, now that secrecy was at an 
end, shouted out his orders, and the boats were impelled 
by the strong oarsmen swiftly to the shore. So rapid 



506 MAJOR-GENERAL WILLIAM B. HAZEN. 

was tlie debarkation, and so perfectly did each party per- 
form its separate duties, even in the j^itchy darkness, 
that the signal fires were scarcely lighted on the opposite 
bank, before the entire command was drawn up in line 
of battle. The advance was made w^ith equal rapidity 
and exactness, so that Hazen was in position, his skir- 
mish line out, and the axes ringing in the w^oods, before 
the reinforcement of the enemy — only a little way over 
the hill — could arrive to drive him back. A stubborn 
fight commenced ; but the boats had no sooner disgorged 
their loads, than they were rowed swiftly across the river 
to take on board the rest of the brigade that stood wait- 
ing, and which quickly crossnig, drove the enemy back. 
A thousand rebel infantry with three pieces of artillery, 
and a force of cavalry, were stationed here, which was 
sufiiciently strong to have prevented any landing, had 
the enemy been prepared for it. By noon a pontoon 
bridge spanned the Tennessee at this point, over which 
artillery and troops w^ere soon thundering, and in a short 
time Hooker had a firm grasp on Lookout Valley. 

The delicate enterprise had been well executed, and 
Grant showed his sagacity in selecting Hazen's brigade 
to perform it. Its drill was perfect, and hence it was 
certain that Hazen's plans would move like clock-work, 
and w^hat he ordered would be performed without fail. 
This gloomy night-ride down the Tennessee, whose far- 
ther shore was lined with the enemy — the successful land- 
ing under the blaze of signal-fires and volleys of the 
alarmed foe — the formation of the lines in the darkness, 
— the heavy strokes of the axe, and the falling of trees, 
before the gray twilight streaked the east, made up a 
thrilling and picturesque scene, and gave an inci'eased 
individuality and renown to " Hazen's brigade." 



A GALLANT CHARGE. 507 

In the great battle that occurred a few weeks after, 
this brigade was in Wood's division, which charged up 
the heights of Mission Ilidge, From where it struck the 
base to the top it was three quarters of a mile, and very 
steep, and swept by at least fifty cannon. In the face of 
this terrible fire, Hazen toiled up the rugged ascent, the 
brigade stopping but twice to rest the whole distance. It 
was slow work, and the men took it coolly till they got 
within almost a hundred yards of the rebel works, when 
the shout " Chickamauga "" ran along the lines, and then, 
with one fierce yell, they cleared, at a bound, embank- 
ments, ditches, everything. The division in its last 
charge got broken into squads, and Hazen, putting him- 
self at the head of one of only a few hundred men, swept 
along the ridge in front of Sheridan's division, making a 
wide breach in the rebel line, which never closed again. 
His appearance at the head of this gallant little band, as 
he led it along the heights, was gallant in the extreme. 

i^ s a part of Granger s corps, he accompanied Sher- 
man, in its long march to relieve Knoxville, and remained 
in East Tennessee till the spring. 

When Sherman assumed the command of the army, 
and organized it for his Atlanta campaign, Hazen was 
placed over a division of the Fifteenth Corps under 
Logan, in the Army of the Tennessee. This, it is known, 
executed most of the flanking movements, and fought 
several heavy battles. We cannot follow him through all 
this long march to Atlanta, and afterwards through 
Georgia, nor speak of his gallant fight near Dallas. Al- 
ways reliable, he was never called on in vain, and never 
failed to do what was assigned him, and to the entire 
satisfaction of his commander. 

In August, he was placed over the second division of 



508 MAJOR-GENERAL WILLIAM B. HA ZEN. 

tlie Fifteenth Army Coips before/Atlanta, and bore his 
part in the movements that resulted in the evacuation of 
the place. 

In the reorganization of the army for the Georgia 
campaign, Hazen was retained with his division, num- 
bering between 4,000 and 5,000 men, for Sherman had 
observed his conduct and knew he could rely on him in 
any emergency. But in the long march through Georgia 
nothing occurred requiring any special service of import- 
ance from him till Savannah was reached, when Sherman, 
seeing that he must open communication with our fleet in 
order to bring up siege guns, ammunition, supplies, &c., 
determined to capture Fort McAllister, on the Ogeechee 
and commanding its waters. Twice it had been bom- 
barded by our ironclads, but no impression could be made 
on it seaward, and he must, therefore, take it by a land 
force, and Hazen was selected for the difficult enterprise. 
On the afternoon of the 12th he sent for the latter and 
told him what he wanted him to do. In a half an hour 
the division was in motion, and by night reached King's 
Bridge, ten miles distant from the fort, and encamped. 
The next morning he continued his march to within a 
raUe of the place, capturing a single horseman, the only 
picket out. He now selected nine regiments for the as- 
sault, leaving the rest of the division in bivouack at the 
place of Mr. Middleton. The nine regiments were then 
taken to within six hundred yards of the fort, which stood 
on the right bank of the Ogeechee, just where the firm 
land and sea marsh join, and deployed in a thin line, ex- 
tending- from the river on the left to the sea marsh on the 

riffht. For more than a third of a mile there stretched 
o 

between him and the fort an open space, planted thick 
with torpedoes and swept by the fire of heavy guns. 



STORMING FORT MCALLISTER. 509 

A-cross this, in open day, his columns must be carried, not 
to reach the fort, but a wide thick abattis, through which 
they would be compelled to struggle, all the while swept by 
a desolating fire. When this obstruction was passed, then 
(;ame a deep ditch, along the bottom oi' which was driven 
strong, high palisades. This being overcome, then there 
would come the ramparts and the hand-to-hand fight 
upon them. 

The marsh on the right was soft and crossed by 
bayous, so that it was late in the afternoon before the line 
in that direction could get in position. Hazen, in the 
meantime, sent, under cover, some sharpshooters to within 
two hundred yards of the fort, to clear the parapet of 
the gunners. 

The long delay in getting the line forward on the right, 
filled Hazen with a good deal of solicitude, as well as 
Sherman with anxiety, as he stood on the top of a rice 
mill, three miles off, and beheld the sun stooping to the 
M^estern horizon and no advance made. Hazen saw his 
signal Hying, " The fort must he taken to-night at all haz- 
ards^'" and knew that both he and Howard were watching 
him throuo-h their o;lasses. He was to fio;ht right under 
the eyes of both his commanders, his every motion watched 
by one at least whose praises would be heard the world over. 
He had stood in many positions of trust and peril, but 
never in one before where he felt such a tremendous re- 
sponsibility resting upon him. His countenance was 
grave and stern, but set with a resolution fixed as fate. 
At length, with every nerve strung to the highest tension 
by the long suspense, he saw his line in position, when he 
(jailed the nearest bugler to him, and ordered him to 
sound the "Attention."'' The long drawn notes rose and 
fell along the waiting line, and floated sweetly over the 



510 MAJOR-GENERAL WILLIAM B. HAZEN, 

sunset waves, making every heart beat with a quicker 
pulsation. " Sound it again," he cried ; and again the well 
known blast pealed over the plain, causing each hand to 
clutch the musket with a tighter clasp. "Sound it 
again," said Hazen, and for the third time, the soft echoes, 
whose language was well understood by friend and foe 
alike, trembled along the evening air and swept around 
the listening garrison. "Now," exclaimed Hazen, 
'•^ sound the Forward.'" The sharp, rapid notes broke 
in startling peals along the excited line, thrilling it like 
an electrical current, and in an instant it bounded forward 
on the double quick, and without a moment's wavering 
swept onward. Torpedoes hid in the sand and exploding 
to the tread, tore many a poor fellow into atoms, and shells 
burst in their midst; but nothing could arrest that deter- 
mined charge, and at length they reached the abattis. Pull- 
ing this apart, climbing over and floundering through it, 
piled thick with brave men, they at length clear it, and 
plunge into the ditch. Seizing the strong palisades 
planted here, they wrench them out by main force, heed- 
ing the fiery hail that smote their heads no more than if 
they had been rain-drops. Making a gap, they pour 
through with shouts of defiance, and climb the parapet. 
A desperate hand-to-hand fight follows; but those ex- 
cited, maddened troops know that Sherman is watching 
them, and ten times their number could not now stop 
Ihem, and leaping within the works, they trample the 
garrison under their feet. Oh, what a shout went up 
from those bloody ramparts then! while a smile such 
as heroes wear, lit up the face of Hazen. He had con- 
quered, the army was safe, and Savannah ours. 

Though the rebels fought desperately, it was all over 
in a few minutes. Captain Clinch, a son of old General 



HIS CHARACTER. 511 

Clinch, and brother-in-law of Gen. Kobert Anderson, com- 
manding a light battery, refused to surrender. Two bul- 
lets pierced him, yet he still clung to his guns ; three 
tirues he was bayonetted, and though bleeding at every 
pore, still refused to surrender, and was tinally knocked 
senseless with the butt-end of a musket. 

Just at dark, Sherman strode into the Fort, his face 
aglow with enthusiasm, and seizing Hazen by the hand, 
overwhelmed him with praises. Well he might, for on 
him had rested in all probability, the task of determining 
whether that campaign should be a success or a failure. 

Hazen accompanied the right wing in its march 
through the Carolinas, and after the surrender of John- 
ston, led his division across the country to Washington, 
and took part in the grand review in the National 
Capital 

At the close of the war he received all the brevets 
of the regular army up to Major-General. In 1866 he 
was in France during the Franco-Prussian war, and U. 
S. Military attache at Vienna during the Eussian-Turk- 
ish war. Between these two visits he was stationed at 
Fort Buford, Dakota, made charges of fraud against 
post-traders which resulted in revelations that were 
damaging to government officials. December 8th, 1880, 
he succeeded" General A. J. Meyer as chief signal officer 
with the rank of Brigadier-Genei'al. His administra- 
tion was marked by the expedition of Lieut. Greeley 
in Lady Franklin Bay and by another to Point Barrow, 
Alaska, to make meteorological and other observations 
in cooperation with European nations. In September, 
1883, after the return of Lieut. Garlington's unsuccess- 
ful relief expedition, General Hazen urged the Secre- 
tary of War to despatch a sealer immediately to rescue 



512 MAJOR-GENERAL WILLIAM B. HAZBN. 

Greeley ; his recommendation having been acted upon, 
he severely censured Secretary Lincoln. In conse- 
quence of this, General Hazen was court-martialed and 
reprimanded. General Hazen introduced the " Cold 
Wave " signal, promoted the use of local and railway 
weather signals, established frost-warnings and initiated 
forecasts for vessels coining to this country from Europe. 
He died at Marshall, 111., August 31st, 1889. 

HIS CHARACTER. 

General Hazen was somewhat above the medium 
height, strongly built, and had a fine open, manly face, 
which inspired confidence, yet wearing withal a resolute 
expression, indicative of his unconquerable firmness. 
In lookina: on him the most common observer would 
say, " there is a rock-fast man, on whom a commander 
may lean in perfect security." He was a severe disci- 
plinarian, and though remorseless to those who wilfully 
neglected their duty, was kind and gentle to those who 
faithfully endeavored to perform it. With the manner 
of a refined and accomplished gentleman in social life, 
on the field of battle he became the stern, abrupt and 
relentless warrior. With an alertness that bafiSed every 
effoi't of the enemy to take him by surprise, he had that 
" coufp (Toeil " of a battle-field that enabled him to seize 
every advantage which its varying fortunes might offer. 
Rapid as lightning in thought and action, he neverthe- 
less had the firmness of the most impassible nature. 
He had the consolation of knowing that he had fairly 
won fame, not only by his own great services, but in 
spite of plotting foes and hypocritical politicians, who 
for years kept him from the double stars of a Major- 
General, but which after the gallant storming of Fort 
McAllister, could no longer be withheld from him. 



CHAPTER XXV. 



MAJOR-GENERAL FRANZ SIGEL. 



HIS NATIVITY — EDUCATED m THE MILITARY SCHOOL AT CARLSRUHE — MADE 
ADJUTANT-GENERAL — ^JOINS THE REVOLUTIONARY GOVERNMENT — MADE 
MINISTER OP WAR — A MASTERLY RETREAT — COMPELLED TO FLEE TO 
SWITZERLAND — DRIVEN FROM THE COUNTRY AND COMES TO THE UNITED 
STATES — KEEPS SCHOOL IN NEW YORK — REMOVES TO MISSOURI — MADE 
COLONEL OP VOLUNTEERS — SERVES UNDER LYON— BATTLE OP CAR- 
THAGE — A SKILLFUL RETREAT — DEFEATED AT WILSON'S CREEK — MADE 
BRIGADIER-GENERAL — HIS GALLANTRY AT PEA RIDGE — DISSATISFIED 
WITH HALLECK AND RESIGNS — PUBLIC MEETING IN HIS BEHALF — MADE 
MAJOR-GENERAL AND STATIONED AT HARPER's FERRY — SUPERSEDES FRE- 
MONT — SERVES THROUGH POPE'S CAMPAIGN — PLACED OVER THE ELEVENTH 
CORPS — GIVEN COMMAND OP THE SHENANDOAH DEPARTMENT BY GRANT — 
DEFEATED BY BRECKENRIDGE — SUPERSEDED BY HUNTER— STATIONED AT 
harper's FERRY — RESIGNS — BECOMES EDITOR OP A GERMAN PAPER EN 
BALTIMORE. 



General Sigel's principal battles were fought under 
other commanders than Grant and Sherman, yet as he 
had an independent command in the great campaign of 
the former against Richmond he is entitled to a place 
amid his generals. Franz Sigel is a native of Germany, 
being born at Sinsheimx, Baden, November 18th, 1824. 
He studied his profession in the military school at Carls- 
ruhe, and such was his standing and reputation, that 
even in that country of severe military education, he was 
made Adjutant-General at the early age of twenty-three. 



514 MAJOR-GENERAL FRANZ SIGEL. 

He was now on the high road to preferment and distinc- 
tion, but fired with the republican sentiments that lay at 
the bottom of the revolution of 1848, he resigned his 
commission, and threw himself heart and soul into the 
German struggle. His sacrifices, devotion and ability, 
made him at once a prominent leader, and the revolu 
tionary government of Baden having determined to send 
an army into Hesse Darmstadt, to protect the liberals 
there, he was placed at the head of it. But when he was 
about to march, he was superseded by Mieroslawski. 
Soon after being made Minister of War, he joined the 
army, and had the mortification of seeing it beaten by 
the Prince of Prussia, at Waghausel and Ettlingen. He 
at once put himself at its head, and by a masterly retreat 
placed it in the Fortress of Pastadt. Leaving it as he 
thought secure, he went alone into the lake district of 
Baden, to gather and concentrate another body of revo- 
lutionary troops that were scattered through that region. 
But while he was gone, the Prince of Prussia invested 
Pastadt — the provisional government took to flight, and 
the incipient revolution collapsed. Disheartened and 
disappointed, his ardent aspirations for the liberty of his 
countrymen all dashed, he withdrew, a voluntary exile, 
into Switzerland, crossing the frontier the 11th of July, 
1849. Beino; considered a danojerous man on account of 
his influence and strong republican principles, he was 
expelled from the country, and in 1852, came to the United 
States. 

Dr. Pudolph Dulon had a school at this time in 
Market street, New York, and Sigel secured a place in 
it as teacher of mathematics, and eventually married his 
daughter. In the fall of 1858, he removed to St. Louis, 
where he continued the business of teaching. When the 



BATTLE OF C A.RTHAGE. 515 

war broke out he volunteered, and was made Colonel of the 
Third Missouri res^iment. He served under the g-allant 
Lj'on, and took part in the bold movement which result- 
ed in the capture of Camp Jackson. During the sum- 
mer he was sent to the southwest part of the State to 
look after Price and Jackson — arriving in Springfield the 
latter part of June. Hearing that they had formed a 
junction, he marched forward, and on the morning of the 
6th of July, came upon them encamped in the open 
prairie a few miles beyond Carthage, and though vastly 
inferior in numbers, at once gave battle. 

After a sharp artillery conflict he saAv that the enemy 
was about to cut off his trains, some three miles in his 
rear, and he ordered a retreat. The rebels, however, got 
around him, and he was compelled to fight his way back 
to Carthage, and through it. The cool and skillful man- 
ner in which he handled his troops, and though sur- 
rounded by a force five times as great as his own, brouglit 
off his train, elevated him at once to a high place in the 
estimation of the people, and his name became a rallying 
cry for the Germans. 

In his next battle, the following month, he was not so 
fortunate. At Wilson's Creek, where Lyon fell, he was 
sent by the latter a circuitous route to reach the enemy's 
rear and fall on them at the same time the main army at- 
tacked in front. But mistaking the rebels for Lyon's 
troops, he was utterly routed, losing nearly half of his 
two thousand men and five of his six guns. 

On August 22d he received the appointment of Briga- 
dier-General — his commission dating back to May 17th. 

Fremont, who had just been put over the Department, 
gave him the command of a division in his grand army, 
that, in October, marched to the southwest in search of 



516 MAJOR-GENERAL FRANZ SIGEL. 

Price. Halleck superseded Fremont in the next Febru- 
ary and gave him also the command of a division in the 
army ol Curtis, who at once pursued the enemy. As 
soon as the latter heard that Van Dorn and JMcCulloch had 
joined Price and were preparing to give him battle, he 
immediately began to concentrate his troops, which had 
been scattered in various directions, to capture rebel bands. 
Sigel, at the time, was at Bentonville with about six 
thousand five hundred men, and in order to join him, had 
to cut his way through the enemy, which he did in most 
gallant style 

Curtis had taken position on Pea Ridge, and the next 
morning stood drawn up in line of battle, awaiting the 
enemy. Hearing that the main force was coming from 
the westward, he sent out Sigel with his division to meet 
him. Advancing for three miles, the latter came upon 
a portion of the rebel army, and pushed it with such de- 
termination that it at length fell back for three miles. 
In the meantime, however, the main army had been 
well nigh overwhelmed, and when night came, Curtis sur- 
veyed his position with gloomy forebodings. The enemy 
had actualty gained his rear, cutting off his retreat, thus 
compelling him to change front, and form an entirely 
new line of battle. Sigel, however, was buoyant and 
confident, promising victory the next day. The German 
camp rang that night with the songs of the " Father- 
land," and, like their brave leader, the soldiers seemed fo 
leel no solicitude for the morrow. The morning dawned 
murky and red, for the smoke of the conflict the day be- 
fore had settled down over the field, through which the 
Sim shone ^^■ith a lurid light. The battle ' soon opened, 
and for two hours a heavy cannonade shook the heights. 
In the meantime, Sigel, by a skillful movement, had sue- 



GALLANTRY AT PEA RIDGE. 517 

ceeded in turning the enemy's flank, and now came rush- 
ing down on him like a torrent. The whole line at once 
advanced in front with loud cheers, and the rebel host 
turned and fled. Sigel immediately took up the pur- 
suit, and the roar of his artillery rapidly died away in the 
distance, as he drove the enemy before him. Over fallen 
trees, across fields and tlirough the woods, the discojnfited, 
panic-stricken rebels floundered in utter dismay — Sigefs 
guns incessantly placing on their rear, and the shouts of 
his men sending increased dismay through their broken 
ranks. Had the country been open, so that his cavalry 
could have acted, nothing but the fragments of that army 
would have escaped. 

Sigefs conduct in this battle increased his fame 
greatly, and it was predicted that he would rank with 
the most distinguished generals of the war. He, how- 
ever, could not get along under Halleck, and after suffer- 
ing for a time his ill-treatment, and unable to obtain any 
redress, he resigned. This created a storm of indigna- 
tion among the Germans, throughout the country, and a 
public meeting was called in New York, to express dis- 
satisfaction with the course pursued towards him, in 
which resolutions were adopted, and a committee ap- 
pointed to lay them before the President. The latter 
replied that Halleck had never sent him Sigefs resigna- 
tion, nor any official despatch in regard to the difficulties 
between them. Moreover, he promised to see that his 
wrongs were redressed, and the next summer made 
him major-general, and placed him in command at 
Harper s Ferry. Shortly after, when Fremont refused 
to serve under Pope, he was given command of his divi- 
sion, and took part in the disastrous campaign that 
followed. 



518 MAJOR-GENERAL FRANZ SIGEL. 

On August 29th, he fought the battle of Groveton 
alone, till two O'clock in the afternoon. The next day, 
also, his division fought gallantly, and then retired ^vith 
the rest of the army to the fortifications around Wasli- 
ington. 

o 

On September 14th, he was placed in command of 
the Eleventh Corps, and in November, when the army 
suddenly marched from Warrenton to Fredericksburg, oc- 
cupied the gaps of the Blue Ridge. He afterwards with- 
drew toward Washington, and established his headquar- 
ters at Fairfax Coui^House. 

In the winter, when the Secretary of War made his 
annual report, he presented, with some other letters, one 
from General Pope to Halleck, in which Sigel was de- 
clared unfit to command. This was an insidious thrust 
of his old enemy, and Sigel, indignant at the implication, 
demanded a court of inquiry. 

When Grant organized his army for his campaign 
against Richmond, he gave Sigel a separate command, 
and placed him in the Valley of the Shenandoah to pro- 
tect his flank, and in the event of Lee's retreating, to 
advance up and threaten Lynchburg. In carrying out 
this plan he was met near Newmarket by Breckenridge, 
who at once gave him battle. Overpowered and defeated, 
he recrossed the Shenandoah, with the loss of five guns 
and nearly seven hundred men. He said that in conse- 
quence of the long line and trains that had to be guarded, 
he could bring into the field but six regiments, be- 
sides the cavalry and artillery, and so fell back to Stras- 
burg. The Government, dissatisfied with his conduct, 
relieved him of the command, and put Hunter in his 
place. 

Sigel was now stationed at Harper s Ferry ; but in 



HIS PRIVATE LIFE. 519 

tlie invasion of Early, during the summer, lie evacuated 
tlie place, occupied Maryland Heights, tin the opposite 
shore, and defended the place successfully with 5,000 
against 18,000 men of Early. This ended his military 
career ; and he eventually resigned his commission and 
established himself in Baltimore as the editor of a Ger- 
man paper called Tlte Wrecker. 

In September, 1867, he removed to New York City. 
He was the Republican candidate for Secretary of State 
in 186'.', but was defeated. In 1870 he went with a 
Commission appointed by President Grant to Santo 
Domingo and Hayti. In 1871 he was appointed collec- 
tor of Internal Revenue, and soon aftei', was elected 
register of the city of New York. He afterwards lec- 
tured, and edited a weekly paper in that city. In 1886 
was appointed pension agent in New York City, which 
position he held until June 1st, 1889. He once wrote 
a memoir describing the part he took in the German 
revolution, and when in Switzerland, published a repub- 
lican pamphlet which was forl)idden in Germany, and 
for which he was sentenced (in conhmnaciam) to four 
years' imprisonment. During the last five years he has 
written many articles for German and English papers 
and magazines, especially for the " Century Magazine " 
and the " Battles and Leaders of the Civil War." 



CHAPTER XXVI. 



MAJOR-GENERAL ALFRED HOWE TERRY. 



UTS BIRTH AND EDUCATION — COUNTY CLERK — VISITS EUROPE — COMMANDS A 
REGIMENT IN THE BATTLE OP BULL RUN — OCCUPIES THE FORT ON HILTON 
HEAD AFTER ITS CAPTURE BY DUFONT — ASSISTS GILLMORE IN THE CAP- 
TURE OP FORT PULASKI — MADE BRIGADIER-GENERAL AND SENT TO 
FLORIDA — EXPEDITION TO POCOTALIGO — JOINS GILLMORE ON MORRIS 
ISLAND IN THE SIEGE OP "WAGNER AND SUMTER — HIS SERVICES UNDER 
BUTLER AT DRURY's RLUPP — ENGAGED IN VARIOUS ACTIONS AROUND 
PETERSBURG AND RICHMOND — SELECTED TO CAPTURE FORT FISHER — 
CAPTURE OF THE PLACE — OCCUPIES WILMINGTON — OPENS COMMUNICA- 
TION WITH SHERMAN — MARCHES TO GOLD8BORO — HIS PRESENT COMMAND 
AND RANK. 

The hero of Fort Fisher was one of the few civilians 
that rose to any distinction in the army. He was born 
in Hartford, Conn., Nov. 10th, 1827, and receiving his 
education at Yale College, studied law, and was admitted 
to the bar in 1848. In 1854, he became Clerk of the 
County of New Haven, and held the office till June, 
^860, when he resigned to travel in Europe. He re- 
turned the following winter, to find the country heaving 
with the throes of civil war. 

On the first call of the President for 75,000 volun- 
teers, he offered his services to the Governor of the 
State, and was made colonel of the Second Connecticul 



SERVICE IN THE SOUTH. 521 

Regiment. Repairing to Washington, he was placed 
under Keyes in the battle of Bull Run, who, in his re- 
port, speaks of his coolness and gallantry, and the assist- 
ance he rendered him. 

When the three months' army disbanded, he raised 
another regiment (the Seventh) which enlisted for three 
years. Being attached to the Southern Expedition, 
under T. W. Sherman, he was appointed by him to 
occupy the captured fort on Hilton Head. During the 
winter he was stationed at Tybee Island, and for the 
great services he rendered Gillmore in the herculean 
labor of planting his batteries before Fort Pulaski, was 
given the honor of occupying the fort after its surrender. 
The next spring he was made brigadier-general, and dur- 
ing the summer had command of the ports and forts on 
the Atlantic Coast of Florida. He was afterwards placed 
under Mitchell, who selected his and Brannan s brigades 
to destroy the railroads and railroad bridges on the Char- 
leston and Savannah line, near PoGotaligo and Coosa- 
hatchie. The expedition was only partially successful, 
but there was some heavy fighting, in which Terry led 
his lirigade with a courage and heroism that have always 
distinouished him. 

o 

He was in command at James Island, in the fight 
there of July 16, 1863, and afterwards joined Gillmore 
on Morris Island, and assisted in the siege of Fort- Wag- 
ner and Sumter through the summer and part of the 
autumn. 

The next spring, just before Grant began his great 
campaign, his division, as a part of Gillmore's Tenth 
Corps, Avas placed under Butler, and took part in the 
battle of Drury's Bluff, in which he distinguished him- 
self greatly. He commanded on the Bermuda line all 



522 MAJOR-GENERAL ALFRED HO^VE TERRY. 

through the summer, and m September lay before Peters- 
burg. 

We cannot go mto a detailed account of the services 
he rendered during this long siege ; but in the action of 
New Market Heights, the last of September, and at New 
Market Roads the fore part of October, and a few days 
after on the Darbytown Road, he exhibited such marked 
ability that he attracted the particular attention of Grant. 
So, in the action of Charles City Road in the latter part of 
October, he showed that his long training in the Southern 
Department had developed him into a finished military 
leader. The energy, skill, coolness, and tact he exhibited 
in these engagements marked him out as the proper man, 
in Grant's estimation, to do what Butler had reported to 
be impracticable, viz., to capture Fort Fisher, which com- 
manded the approach to Wilmington. Taking with him 
the same troops that composed Butler's Expedition, 
slightly increased in numbers, he set sail for the Cape 
Fear River, and effected a landing on the sea-beach, 
about five miles north of the fort, on the 12th day of Jan- 
uary. Making a defensible line, here, he, on the 14th, 
laid out a second Ime, and pushed a reconnoissance to 
within five hundred yards of the fort. All this time 
Porter was pounding away on it from his ships, envelop- 
big it in a terrific fire — the heavy shell and shot falling in 
it for three days without intermission. 

The fleet attacked in three divisions — the first, led by 
the " Brooklyn," numbered one hundred and sixteen 
guns ; the second, by the " Minnesota," one hundred and 
seventy-six guns ; and the third, composed of gunboats, 
with one hundred and twenty-three guns — in all over 
four hundred guns, and some of them of the largest cali- 
bre. Never before was a single fort subjected to such a 



STORMING OF FORT FISHER. 523 

fire; and under it, guns were dismounted, embrasures 
blown open, and traverses disappeared, with marvellous 
rapidity. So terrific was this storm of fire that the fijrt 
soon ceased to reply, and silent and grim, stood and took 
the beating. 

The third day, Sunday, was fixed for the assault, 
which Terry arranged should be made b}' three deployed 
brigades, following one another about three hundred 
yards apart, each to make its last final rush for the west 
end on the land side, starting from a rough rifle-pit about 
three, hundred yards distant. It was a beautiful Sabbath, 
and the sun shone calmly down on the busy preparations 
going on all the forenoon, and on the tossing clouds of 
smoke that incessantly rolled up from the water. Three 
o'clock was fixed upon for the assault, and for three hours 
previous the fleet poured in a concentric fire upon the fort, 
so rapid and terrible, that it seemed as if, when the smoke 
lifted, nothing but a heap of ruins would remain — but the 
earth parapets twenty-five feet thick ren:iained apparently 
firm as ever. These were twenty feet high and surrounded 
by a strong palisade. Nearly two hundred yards in ad- 
vance of this was strung a line of torpedoes eighty feet 
apart — each containing a hundred pounds of powder 
and connected by three sets of wires. Fortunately, the 
shot fi.^om the fleet had cut the sets leading to those 
that lay in the path of the assaulting columns, or 
perhaps a different result would have followed. But 
these being rendered harmless, and the palisades pretty 
well crushed by the same fire, the assaulting col- 
umns had nearly a clean sweep to the ramparts, though 
in some places the palisades had to be cut away and 
beaten down with heavy timbers. 

Everything being ready, the signal was given, and the 



524 MAJOR-GENERAL ALFRED HOWE TERRY. 

brigades bounded forward. Pteacliing the works, the men 
began to scale them, while at the same time an assault by 
the sailors on the water side was being made. The mo- 
ment our shouting troops mounted the ramparts a most 
terrific hand-to-hand fight followed. But soon from the 
top lloated our flag, and beside it the Ijlue flag of Terry. 
Still the fort was far from being won. The high ram- 
parts had swallowed up the combatants, yet from out the 
interior arose muffled shouts and curses, and incessant 
vollies of musketry, showing that the work of death was 
going on within. Winning their bloody way from 
traverse to traverse, our troops fought their way steadily 
forward in spite of all opposition. Darkness at length 
wrapped sea and land ; yet still the desperate struggle 
went on, and death held high carnival in the crowded pas- 
sages. All this time the ponderous shells of the fleet 
\rere exploding in the farther end — and between the ca- 
nopy of fire without and the raging hell within, that fort 
presented a strange spectacle in the gloom of that Sabbath 
evenino'. 

o 

The garrison, though fighting bravely, were driven 
back step by step, leaving the record of their struggle in 
the rows of dead men that lay pale and ghastly in the un- 
certain gleams of light. At length, at half-past nine 
o'clock, there came up from out its bosom a loud, long 
cli^er, and then Terry's signal torches flamed from the 
sun.mit, announcing to Porter that the place was won. 
Rockets were at once sent up from the flag-ship, and as 
they streamed through the sky, announced to the 
fleet the glorious news, and cheers from the ships and 
cheers from the fort replied ■ till the midnight air flamed 
and trembled above with light and joy. 

It was a great victory, but its triumph was dashed the 



THE VICTORY. 525 

next morning by the sudden bloAving-up o'the main maga- 
zine in the fort, by which neai-ly t\vo hundred of the 
brave men who had so nobly faced death the night before 
were killed or maimed. 

The garrison, when driven from the fort, retreated 
down the peninsula to the cover of some works near the 
inlet, but, farther resistance being useless, surrendered. 
Five hundred were found dead in the fort and two thou- 
sand were taken prisoners. 

It seems astonishing that such an impregnable fortress 
as this, with a garrison of twenty-five hundred men, could 
be taken. The parapets were twenty feet high, with tra- 
verses ten or twelve feet thick, and ten feet hioh, rising 
above them. Between each pair of traverses guns were 
])laced, while fifty feet in front of the outer slope ran a 
loop-holed palisade. These traverses were bomb-proofed, 
and on the middle one two field pieces were so placed as 
to sweep the curtain. Comstock, who was the Engineer- 
in-Chief of the expedition, says, " That in thirty bomb- 
proofs and magazines and their passages there were 
fourteen thousand five himdred feet of floor space, not in- 
cluding the main magazine that was blown up, and whose 
dimensions Avere unknown." 

No wonder that we lost nearly a thousand men in 
carrying such a formidable stronghold. Both Terry and 
his troops deserve immortal honor: the former for the 
skilful manner in which he planned the assault, and the 
latter for their unparalleled heroism, not only in dashing 
against such an impregnable work, but for fighting nearly 
seven hours in darkness and uncertainty, till victory was 
won. This great success took the country by surprise ; 
for, -with the return of Butler, it was supposed the at- 
tempt to capture the [)lace was abandoned. It was als<f 



526 MAJOR-GENERAL ALFRED HOWE TERRY. 

felt to be a heavy blow to the Confederacy, for Wilmington 
was the chief port of blockade runners, by which a vast 
amount of cotton went out, and war material, and food, 
and clothing came in. 

Still, for ourselves, we confess that the assault, made 
at the time it was, needs more explanation than we can 
furnish. Grant knew, when Sherman left Atlanta, that 
Goldsboro' was his objective point — he knew, also, that 
he Avas then about starting from Savannah for it, and 
that before he reached Fayetteville, Wilmington, lying 
a hundred miles to the southeast, would be evacuated. The 
enemy could no more hold this place with Sherman 
marching on Fayetteville, than it could hold Charleston 
when he was marching on Columbia. In short, Wil- 
mington must have fallen of itself if Sherman's march 
was not arrested. 

Finding Fort Fisher gone, the rebels blew up Fort 
Caswell, and retreated to Wilmington. 

In the meantime, Schofield with a large force, took 
command here, and the next month, in conjunction with 
Pc/rter, moved against Fort Anderson, just below Wil- 
mington. The rebel commander, however, did not wait 
to be attacked, but evacuated it and retreated north, fol- 
lowed by Schofield and Terry, and the city, \vith all its 
treasures, fell into our hands. 

Schofield now transferring his force to Newbern, so as 
to cooperate up the Neuse with Sherman as he advanced 
toward Goldsboro'', Terry remained at Wilmington to 
open comnmnication with him at Fayetteville. 

When Sherman finally left the latter place and moved 
on Bentonville, Terry followed after, taking up Howard's 
trains that he had left in his hurry to aid Slocura, and 
reached Cox's Brido;e, tenmiles above Goldsboro', about 



HIS CHARACTER. 527 

the time Schotield reached the phice ; thus holding the 
Neuse River. 

Terry was made major-general of volunteers, and 
brigadier-general in the army, on the 15th of January, 
directly after the capture of Fort Fisher. He is now 
brevet major-general in the army, and commands the 
Virginia department, with headquarters at Richmond. 

Of the few civilians that have reached high positions 
in the army, he is the most prominent ; and it is very 
evident that he has at last got into the profession for 
which nature designed him. His military qualities are of 
the very highest order, and he exhibits a remarkable union 
of dash and daring, with calm thought, and deliberate 
action. He has never yet had an opportunity to exhibit 
his military excellence fully — having, for most of his ca- 
reer, acted in a subordinate capacity ; but that he is a 
man of extraordinary capacity, is evident from the fact 
that, of all the leaders in the grand Armj^ of the Poto- 
mac, Grant selected him for one of the most desperate 
and hazardous enterprises of the war. 



CHAPTER XXVII. 



MAJOR-GENERAL JOHN ALEXANDER McCLERNAND. 



HIS NATIVITY AKD EAKLY LIFE — STUDIES LAW— VOLUNTEERS TO FIGHT THE 
INDIANS — EMBARKS IN TRADE — ESTABLISHES A DEMOCRATIC PAPER, AND 
OPENS A LAW OFFICE — ENTERS ON A POLITIC AI, LIFE — RESIGNS HIS SEAT 
IN CONGRESS, AND RAISES A BRIGADE— HIS GALLANTRY AT BELMONT— 

CAIRO EXPEDITION BATTLE OF FORT DONELSON BRAVERY AT SHILOH— 

PLACED OVER SHERMAN — CAPTURES ARKANSAS POST — LEADS THE AD- 
VANCE IN THE CAMPAIGN OF VICKSBURG— HIS GREAT SERVICES — ASSAULT 
OF VICKSBURG — HIS ORDER AND LETTER TO GOVERNOR YATES — IS RE- 
MOVED BY GRANT — HIS CHARACTER. 



Up to the siege of Vicksburg no general in the army 
had been a steadier companion or more intimate friend 
of Grant than McClernand. They started together in 
their military' career — fought side by side, and entertained 
the highest regard for each other. 

John Alexander McClernand was born in Brecken- 
ridge Co., Kentucky, May 30, 1812. But his father 
dying when he was only tour years old, his mother re- 
moved to Shawneetown, 111., where the son worked on a 
tarm. Feeling himself, however, capable of reaching a 
higher position than this, he, at the age of seventeen, 
commenced the study of law, and in 1832 was admitted 
to the l)ar. But instead of entering on his profession, 
carried away by his military spirit, he volunteered in the 



GALLANTRY AT BELMONT. 529 

war against the Sacs and Foxes. His health being poor, 
he, on his return, embarked in trade ; but soon becoming 
dissatisfied with this, he established a paper called the 
^^ Shaivneetoum Democrat,'''' and, at the same time, re- 
sumed the practice of the law. 

The next year, 183G, he was elected to the legislature 
of the State, in which he served also in 1840 and 1842. 
The year following he was elected to Congress from his 
district, and his first speech in the Hall of Representa- 
tives was upon the bill to remit the fine imposed upon 
General Jackson by Judge Hall of New Orleans. In 
184G and 1848 he was again elected. In 1858 he acted as 
chairman of the committee on resolutions in the Demo- 
cratic State Convention, called to sustain Senator Doug- 
las in his course on the Lecompton bill. In 1860 he was 
the third time returned to Congress, and served through 
that stormy period till the l)reaking out of the war, when 
he resigned, and, with Logan and Foulke, both members 
of Congress, returned to Illinois and raised the McCler- 
nand brigade, of which he took command. In the battle 
of Belmont he behaved with great gallantry, and had a 
horse shot under him. Just as the victorious troops were 
rushing forward among the rebel tents, he heard firing 
down by the river, and^ galloping thither, found a com- 
pany closely engaged with a detachment of the enemy. 
The firing was very hot, and as McClernand rode into it, 
his head Avas grazed by a ball, his horse wounded in the 
shoulder and his housings torn in several places. 

At kngth, when he found the camp cleared of the 
enemy, he called for three cheers for the Union, which 
were given with a will. 

When it was discovered that the enemy had crossed 
a large force between our troops and their transports up 



530 MAJOR-GENERAL JOHN ALEXANDER McCLERNAND. 

the river, thereby rendering a retreat necessary', McCler- 
nand immediately ordered Colonel Logan to advance his 
flag to the fi^ont, and be prepared to cut his way through. 
In the fight that tbllowed, his horse received another shot. 
His bearing in this, his first battle, was gallant and 
I'hivalric, and Grant, in his despatch, says, "General 
McClernand (who, by the way, acted with great coolness 
and courage throughout, and proved that he is a soldier 
as well as statesman,) and myself each had our horses shot 
under us." 

In a subsequent expedition, made in mid-wrinter to- 
ward Columbus, McClernand marched his troops seventy- 
five miles over a detestable country, carrying out his 
orders faithfull}'. 

He served under Grant in the expedition against 
Forts Henry and Donelson, and in the investment of the 
latter place commanded the right wing, composed of three 
brigades, that rested on the river, above the works. It 
w^as on him that the grand assault was made by the 
enemy, when he endeavored to cut his way through our 
lines. Forced back by overwhelming numbers, he des- 
perately contested every inch of ground, while he sent 
off for reinforcements, and finally succeeded in driving 
back the enemy to his entrenchments. That evening, he 
advanced his lines over the blood-stained snow, and stood 
ready to assault the works early in the morning, when he 
received the news that the place had surrendered. 

At Pittsburg Landing, previous to the battle, he, with 
Sherman and Prentiss, held the advance line, and hence 
caught the first burst of the storm on that fearful Sabbath 
morning. He lay a little in thfe rear of Sherman, and 
hence had time to prepare for the onset, that swept every- 
thing before it. As the latter began to fall back, he sent up 



BRAVERY AT SHILOH. 531 

reintorcements to him, by wliich he himself was so weaken- 
ed that, when attacked in turn, he was compelled to change 
front, under a heavy fire. By so doing, though he had 
gone into action at seven o'clock, he was able to hold the 
Corinth road till ten. But at length being outflanked 
and overpowered, he was compelled to fall back, which he 
did slowly and in good order ; ever and anon turning 
and charging on the enemy, with a fury that arrested his 
progress. Thus, charging, retreating, halting, and bleed- 
ing, he continued to fall back till he reached Hurlbut, 
in the rear. Rallying here, he with his right swept 
round and drove the enemy for a considerable distance ; 
but, with the rest of the army, he was finally borne hope- 
lessly towards the Tennessee. 

The next day he led his exhausted troops gallantly 
into the fight, and four times regained and lost again the 
ground in his front, and bore himself nobly through- 
out, fairly winning over again the double star of major- 
general, which he had received the month before. 

He was with Halleck, in the operations that resulted 
in the evacuation of Corinth, and afterward continued to 
serve under Grant. 

In the following winter Grant made his first demon- 
stration against Vickburg, by sending Sherman to assault 
it. On its failure he ordered McClernand to take com- 
mand of the army, who divided it into two corps, placing" 
one under Sherman and the other under General Morgan, 
the hero of Cumberland Gap. On the 4th of January 
he sailed on an expedition against Fort Hindman, or 
Arkansas Post, as it was called, which formed the key to 
the extensive country drained by the Arkansas River. 
Reaching the mouth of the White River on the 8th, he 
moved the transports up it to the cut-ofl", and for the pur- 
34 



532 MAJOR-GENERAL JOHN ALEXANDER McCLERNAND. 

pose of deceiving the enemy, landed his troops the next 
evening on the left bank of the river, three miles below 
the fort. The country was entirely new to him, and he 
spent the following morning in reconnoitring. Sherman 
was finally sent with his corps to make a detour, for the 
purpose of investing the upper side of the fort, who. 
marching inland, crossed a swamp a quarter of a mile 
wide, and then ascertained that the works could not be 
approached in that direction, but by a circuit so wide that 
it would practically leave him out in the designed as- 
sault. Reporting his position to McClernand, the latter 
crossed the swamp, and, ascertaining the exact state 
of things, recalled him, and sent him up the river to 
join the other forces. Admiral Porter, with a squadron 
of" gunboats, accompanied the expedition, and he now 
directed him to open fire on the rebel works in order to 
distract the attention of the garrison, while the army was 
getting iifto position. Porter moved up at once, and soon 
the swamps and forests that bordered the Arkansas Kiver 
echoed v\^ith the thunder of his guns, which kept up a 
terrific fire till the wintry night closed over the landscape. 
It had been a day of constant marching to the troops, and 
night found the place still not completely invested. It 
was cold and chilly, and the troops lay do^vn in the dark- 
ness without fire or tents, to get such rest as they could, 
while all night long the rapid strokes of the axe inland 
told that the rebels were busy felling trees to obstruct their 
advance. 

The next morning dawned bright and pleasant, and by 
half-past ten, McClernand had his arni}^ in position, ready 
to advance, and sent word to Porter to open fire. At 
one o'clock the gunboats moved boldly up and rained 
such a horrible tempest on the fort, that the guns on the 



ARKANSAS POST. 533 

river side were soon nearly all silenced, the casemates 
tumbled in, and wreck and ruin spread around. On the 
land side, the cannonading and musketry grew more furi- 
ous every hour, while closer and closer drew the long lines 
ol' infantry, preparing, when the order "forward! "should be 
given, to leap over abbatis, ditch, ramparts and all. ' The 
sun was hanging just above the western horizon, and the 
wintry Sabbath was drawing rapidly to a close, and Mc- 
Clernand was just ready to give the order to advance to 
the assault, when a white flag rose above the works. The 
uproar of the guns suddenly ceased, and in its place there 
went up deafening cheers, that, rolling down the line, 
were caught up by the transports and sent back, till, for 
miles, the woods and banks echoed with shouts. 

Our loss in this attack was about a thousand, while 
McClernand reported five thousand prisoners captured, 
with seventeen pieces of cannon, and three thousand stand 
of arms, besides ammunition, shot and shell, and animals, 
and Avar material in great quantities. 

This victory, coming on the heels of Sherman's defeat 
before Vicksburg, was hailed with delight, and McCler- 
nand was quoted as an mstance of a great General using 
from the ranks of civil life. 

A few weeks after. Grant commenced his great and 
decisive campaign against Vicksburg, and McClernand 
moved down the Mississippi to take part in it. The force 
under him consisted of four divisions of the Thirteenth 
Army Corps. After the various fruitless attempts by 
canals and inland waters to get in the rear of Vicksburg, 
Grant determined, as a last resort, to march his army 
below it on the western shore, andMcClernand's corps took 
the advance. As a first step he sent forward Osterhaus 
to capture Richmond, the capital of Madison Parish. 



534 MAJOR-GENERAL JOHN ALEXANDER McCLERNAND. 

Louisiana. By ten o'clock he had reached the bayou in 
front of the place, and at once opened lire upon it. In 
the meantime, boats had been brought along in wagons, 
which were quickly hauled out and launched. A part of 
the cavalry at once dismounted and, springing in, paddled 
themselves across with the butts of their muskets. The 
other portion plunged into the water, and swimming their 
horses over, mounted, Avith loud cheers, the opposite bank, 
Avdien tlie terrified rebels fled in every direction. 

Dui'ing that night McClernand built a bridge with his 
pioneer corps, under Captain Patterson, two hundred feet 
long, made entirely of the logs taken from the adjacent 
houses. The columns marched over, but the difficulties of 
the route had but just commenced. " Old roads had to be 
repaired, new ones made, boats constructed for the trans- 
portation of men and supplies, twenty miles of levee 
sleeplessly guarded day and night, and every possible pre- 
caution taken to prevent the rising flood from breaking 
tlirough the levee and engulfing us." The rebel cavalry 
were also hovering around, but, being at last driven across 
the Bayou Vidal, McClernand, on the 4th of April, em- 
barked in a skiff, and, accompanied by Osterhaus and his 
staff, rowed down to within half a mile of Cai'thage and 
the Mississippi River. Fii-ed upon by the enem}', the 
skiff was brought to a halt, but not until he ascertained 
that the levee had been cut, and the water, in three cur- 
rents, was pouring through, flooding all the countrj'. 
Capturing a flat-boat, he mounted it with two howitzers, 
and, embarking a party, sent it down to drive the enemy 
out of Carthage, which they succeeded in doing. But 
Carthage had to be abandoned, tor want of the means of 
transportation, and a lower point for crossing the river 
reached. 



CAPTURES PORT GIBSON. 535 

In this march, McClernaiicl constructed nearly two 
thousand feet of bridging out of material created, for the 
most part, on the occasion — completing, in three days 
and nio;hts, the o-reat military road across the Peninsula, 
from the Mississippi River to a point forty miles below 
Vicksburg. 

When Porter moved to the attack on Grand Gulf, 
McClernand embarked a part of his force to occupy it 
the moment the enemy was driven out. But the place 
could not be taken, and so he disembarked his troops, and 
continued his march inland, to a point opposite Bruins- 
burg. Crossing the river here, he halted only long 
enough to distribute three days' rations, when he took up 
his march for the bluffs, three miles back. Reaching 
these at sunset, he determined to make a forced march 
that night to Port Gibson. A little after midnight he 
came upon the enemy — their presence and position being 
announced by the blaze of their artillery, lighting up the 
strange landscape. Reaching the front at daylight, Mc- 
Clernand immediately prepared for battle, and advanced 
up the two roads that forked off here — both leading to 
Port Gibson. The conflict raged along these roads all 
day, but at night the enemy retreated, and at daylight 
next morning McClernand's advance entered Port Gib- 
son. To him belongs the honor of this first victory on 
the eastern shore of the Mississippi. 

For thirteen days McClernand now steadily marched 
inland; a part of the time engaged with the enemy, and 
all the time without tents or regular teams, and with but 
six days' rations — being compelled to get the rest of his 
supplies from the country through which he was moving. 

At the battle of Champion Hill, Hovey's division of 
his corps covered itself with glory. From this point, 



536 MAJOR-GENERAL JOHN ALEXANDER McCLERNAND. 

McClernand took the advance in the march toward 
Vicksburg. 

In the grand assault on the place, on the 2 2d, his 
corps bore a conspicuous part. Early in the morning, he 
opened with his artillery, numbering about forty pieces, 
and kept up a rapid, effective fire, until five minutes be- 
fore ten o'clock, when the bugle sounded the " forward." 
His columns then moved in dead silence, with fixed bayo- 
nets, to the assault, and " within fifteen minutes Lowbers 
and Lendrum's brigades had carried the ditch, slope, and 
bastion of a fort." Reporting his success to Grant, he 
said that he was within the rebel works, and needed rein- 
forcements. Tlie assault, which had been abandoned, was 
renewed on his representations, by which, Grant declared 
he sustained his greatest loss. This offended McClernand, 
and not long after he issued a congratulatory order, in 
which he recounted the services of his corps in the long 
marches and battles from Milliken's Bend to Vicksburg. 
Immediately after, Grant removed him from the com- 
mand of his corps, and put Ord m his place. We sus- 
pect, however, his removal was not owing, as reported, so 
much to the order, as to a letter which McClernand wrote 
to Governor Yates in his own vindication, in which he 
not only censured others, but claimed that if he had been 
properly reinforced Vicksburg might have been captured. 

This ended McClernand's services in the field, and 
caused a disruption of the fi-iendship between him and 
Grant, much to be regretted. 

Occupying the first rank among those major-generals 
who had been appointed from civil life, McClernand had 
shown an aptitude for command possessed by few. Ner- 
vous and excitable, yet cool and steady, he handled his 
troops with great skill and success, and bade fair to stand 



HIS CHARACTER. 537 



in the first rank of coinmanclers. The high opinion which 
Grant had of him is seen in his putting Sherman under him, 
after the repulse of the latter before Vicksburg, in 1863 
Without any military education, he rose by the force of 
his own talents to one of the most prominent positions in 
the country. A life-long Democrat, he was stoutly op- 
posed throughout the war to the confiscation and emanci- 
pation policy of the administration ; but bravely drew his 
sword, and freely offered his life for the defence of his 
country. 



CHAPTER XXVIII. 



MAJOR-GENERAL OLIVER OTIS HOWARD. 



HAVELOCK OF THE ARMY — HIS BIRTH AND EARLT EDUCATION — AT WEST 
POINT — SENT TO FLORIDA — HIS CON\'ERSION — JOINS THE METHODIST 
CHURCH — APPOINTED INSTRUCTOR AT WEST POINT — SUPERINTENDENT 
OF SABBATH SCHOOL — ESTABLISHES A PRAYER MEETING AND BIBLE 
CLASS — RESIGNS AND IS APPOINTED COLONEL OF A MAINE REGIMENT — 
COMMANDS A BRIGADE AT BULL RUN— MADE BRIGADIER — LOSES AN 
ARM AT PAIR OAKS —GALLANTRY AT ANTIETAM — HIS DEFEAT AT 

CHANCELLORSVILLE — HIS GREAT SERVICES AT GETTYSBURG SENT WEST 

TO REINFORCE ROSECRANS — LOOKOUT VALLEY — MISSION RIDGE — 
SERVES UNDER HOOKER IN THE ATLANTA CAMPAIGN — SUCCEEDS MC- 
PHERSON IN THE COJIMAND OF THE ARMY OF THE TENNESSEE — COM- 
MANDS THE RIGHT WING IN THE GEORGIA CAMPAIGN AND THE CAM- 
PAIGN OP THE CAROLINAS — PLACED OVER THE FREEDMEN'S BUREAU — 
HIS CHRISTIAN CHARACTER — ABILITIES AS A GENERAL — ANECDOTES OP 



As in the terrible revolt in India, the English army 
had its Havelock, so we in our frightful revolution have 
had our Howard. Although there alwajs have been 
man}^ officers of various grades in our navy or army who 
were Christians, jet neither is considered as favorable to 
the highest development of Christian character. Indeed, 
it is difficult to conceive how a man so truly devotional 
as Havelock, could love the profession of arms. It seems 
equally strange that one engrossed with military duties, 
and surrounded with associations of camp life, should ex- 



CHRISTIAN CHARACTER. 539 

hibit the Christian graces far moi-e brightly than most 
men whose occupations necessarily keep them constantly 
under religious influences. But whether on the march 
or battle-field, or suri-ounded by gay and reckless offi- 
cers, Howard has so maintained his Christian character, 
that he is known as the " Christian soldier." 

He was born in Leeds, Maine, Novembei' 8th, 1830, 
so that he was barely thirty years of age when the war 
broke out. He received a liberal education, having 
graduated at Bowdoin College when but twenty years 
of age. From college he went directly to West Point, 
where he graduated in 1854, and was appointed Brevet 
Second Lieut, of Ordnance, his fourth station, 1856, and 
sent fco Florida. Here he became a changed man, and 
renouncing the world, accepted Christ as his Saviour, 
and from that time meekly " took up his cross and fol- 
lowed Him." He was baptized by Kev. Mr. Lynd'e, a 
Methodist clergyman, and joined the Methodist Church 
on probation, but soon after permanently united with 
the Congregational body. The same year, 1857, he was 
made first lieutenant, and was appointed Instructor of 
Mathematics at West Point, where he remained till the 
breaking out of the war. Here he became distinguished, 
not only for the able and faithful perfoi-mance of his 
duties, but for his interest in religious afl:airs. He was 
superintendent of a Sabbath-school, and had cadet 
prayer-meetings twice a week, and also a Bible-class of 
soldiers and citizens. He has two younger brothers — 
one of whom is a clergyman, and. the other rose to be a 
colonel in the army. There must have been remarkable 
home influences to give them such a religious bias. 

' In June, 1861, he resigned his commission to take 
command of the Third Maine Volunteers. The regiment 



540 MAJOR-riENERAL OLIVER OTIS HOWARD. 

was composed of hardy men — some of tliem stalwart 
lumbermen from the back-woods ; and they felt a little 
uneasy at being commanded })y a West Point officer. 
But they were quite confounded when, after making 
them an address, the young man took off his hat and led 
them in prayer. A swearing colonel, most could under- 
stand ; but a praying one was a novelty they did not ex- 
pect to see. He, however, worked his way into their 
affections, for they soon found he was not a fanatic ; but 
a true, noble, conscientious and thorough officer. 

In the battle of Bull Run, July 21st, 1861, he com- 
manded a brigade, and bore himself so gallantly that in 
September he was made brigadier-general and assigned 
a brigade in the Army of the Potomac. He accom- 
panied it to the Peninsula, and at the battle of Fair 
Oaks, Va., June 1st, 1862, lost his right ai-m by two 
grievous wounds from rifle balls which struck the same 
arm at different periods during the same battle. His 
brisrade belono-ed to Richardson's division, that came 
across the flooded Chickahominy to the rescue of the 
hard-pressed army. In the opening of the second day's 
fight his brigade was put in front, and he held it stead- 
ily within half musket shot of the hostile line. It was 
deadly work ; and he saw that he could keep his men 
to it only by great personal efforts and daring. Riding, 
therefore, backward and forward along the lines, with 
the bullets screaming around him, he roused them by 
stirring appeals and the reckless exposui-e of his own 
person. He knew that it would be a miracle if he 
escaped, yet he determined that the brigade should 
stand firm while he siood. His staff closed around him; 
but soon one, then another fell — his own brother being 
struck down by his side — yet he still kept riding 



AT CHANCELLORSVILLE. 541 

through the fire. At hist, liowever. a minie rifle ball, 
in full sweep, again shattered his arm It is said that 
after the first wound he shook the mutilated, bleeding 
stump in front of his brigade and urged them to stand 
firm and behave like men. As he walked to the Fair 
Oaks depot the next morning, he passed the one-armed 
Kearney, and jokingly said : " General, we can here- 
after buy our gloves together." 

This took him from the field during the rest of the 
Peninsular campaign, but in September, when McClellan 
organized his Maryland campaign, he was at the second 
Bull Run, again in the saddle. Being in Sedgewick's 
division, he was in the terrible battle of Anteitam, fought 
by Hooker on the right, and nobly sustained the repu- 
tation he had won for steady courage and chivalrous 
daring. When Sedgewick was borne wounded to the 
rear, he assumed command of the division. 

On the 1st of April, 1863, he was placed over the 
Eleventh Corps, which, in the battle of Chancellorsville, 
was placed on the extreme I'ight, and facing three ways, 
to prevent a flank attack. All through Saturday night 
he saw columns in motion and heard a confused sound 
in the woods south and west of him — the rumblinsf of 
wagons, ceaseless roaring, and the hum of human voices, 
but did not dream the rebel army had turned from ifcs 
way to his fight flank, all evidence available indicating 
Lee's retreat. In the afternoon of the same day he re- 
ceived orders from Hooker to reinforce Sickles with a 
brigade. He immediately led it over in person. Rid- 
ing back to headquarters, he had just dismounted, when 
two cannon shot to the right, followed almost instantly by 
a tremendous crash of musketry, accompanied with ter- 
rific yells, told him that the enemy were attacking his 



542 MAJOll-GENERAL OLIVER OTIS HOWARD. 

right. Springing to the saddle, he galloped toward the 
spot, but came too late, for the First German Brigade 
had already given way, followed by the shouting in- 
furiated foe. He endeavored to check the panic, but 
in an instant it was communicated to other brigades, 
and the confused, broken mass came tearing over the 
field in wild terror. He threw himself in their front, 
and ordered, threatened and begged them to stop and 
face the enemy, But he talked to deaf men : the whole 
right division was borne away like a loosened torrent, 
leaving him almost alone. The agony of a life-time was 
compressed into his brave heai't in that teri-ible moment. 
Two divisions on the left still held their ground, and he 
galloped to them, and for about an hour made a strong 
resistance ; but it accomplished little, and at last away 
went the whole corps in a wild, uncontrollable 
panic. Through the troops in the rear, through the 
crowd of teamsters, ambulances, wagons, and artillery, 
the runaways broke — Jackson's veterans, like a roaring 
flood, thundering at their heels. Howard was over- 
whelmed at the spectacle ; he had never expected to see 
Bull Run over again, but here it was. Utterly helpless 
to stay the torrent, he was borne away with the un- 
broken rear guard. If, by giving up his life, he could 
have arrested that awful disorder, he would have poured 
it out like water ; but the whirlwind that swept past 
him was beyond human control. The sun now stooping 
behind the western woods, and the coming on of dark- 
ness, added increased gloom and terror to the scene. 
For a moment it seemed that the whole army must go 
to swift destruction with the broken right wing ; but 
Sickles, and Berry, and Whipple, came to the rescue, 
and the maddened torrent was stopped and reformed 
near the Chancellor ville house. 



AT GETTYSBITRa. 543 

That was the saddest night of Howard's life ; but 
rousing himself to the magnitude of the task before him, 
he, by almost superhuman exertions, succeeded before 
morning in reorganizing his corps, so that it was again 
put in line of battle on the extreme left ; in fact, he had 
rallied the main portion before midnight, and led them 
forward to the support of Bei'ry. 

On Monday and Tuesday", the enemy tried his long 
lines several tunes, but without effect.* When he took 
this position, he asked for the brigade which contained 
the 61st and the 64:th New York and other Regiments, 
which bore themselves so bravely at Fair Oaks. It was 
given him, and as he rode out to meet it the gallant fel- 
lows greeted him with a cheer. With pride he watched 
their bold and steady tread, and knew there would be 
no flinching where they stood. Posting them behind 
the brigade that was the first to break on Saturday 
night, he gave orders to shoot down any man that at- 
tempted to run. Determined that another such dis- 
grace should not overtake him, he kept the front line 
continually under his eye ; hence he became a target 
for the sharpshooters, tliat again and again sent their 
bullets whistling around his ears, and it was a marvel 
that he was not hit. 

Howard felt the disgrace of his corps keenly, though 
no blame was attached to him. Instead of being abused, 
he received the warmest sympathy ; for all who knew 
his gallant, noble nature felt that he had suffered be- 
yond the power of expression. 

He resolved that in the next battle the corps should 
wi])e out the disgrace that clung to it, and he told it so, 
and a few months later, at Gettysburg, it did. On 
Wednesday, when Reynolds, with the First Corps, sud- 



544 MAJOR-GEN^EEAL OLIVER OTIS HOWARD. 

denly came upon the enemy at this place, he, with the 
Eleventh, was several miles in the rear, marching lei- 
surely forward. The former, on finding himself con- 
fronted by a superior force, sent back to the latter to 
hasten forward. He did so, though he was compelled 
to take bye-ways, as the main road was blocked by the 
trains of the First Corps. The sound of battle in the 
distance hastened his march, for it was evident that 
Reynolds was heavily engaged. 

Spurring on in advance of his troops, Howard, with 
his staff, arrived on the field at 10:30 o'clock, and riding 
from height to height took a I'apid survey of the condi- 
tion of aifairs, settled upon cemetery ridge for his re- 
serves. Soon after the heads of the columns appeared 
in view, and Reynolds having previously fallen, he as- 
sumed command of both corps and arranged his line 
of battle. The enemy, boldly advancing, attacked him 
with desperate fury, but could not force him back until 
E well's corps came to their help (the old troops of Jack- 
son), and swinging in, in front of the Eleventh, charged 
down with their old battle cry. The corps, having its 
lost name to retrieve, bore up manfully against the 
shock; but pressed by overwhelming numbers, was at 
length about giving way, though this time not in panic. 

Howard now caused the retreat through the town 
of the whole force eu"rao;ed, and reforming: his disordered 
lines on Cemetery Hill, opened his batteries on the ene- 
my and stopped his further progress. Here Hancock, 
sent forward by Meade, found him, and the two agreed 
that right there the great battle should l)e fought. 

The next day, he, with his corps, held this hill, form- 
ing the centre of the line of battle ; and during all the 
time the rebel attack was pressed on the left its summit 



A TERRIBLE REPULSE. 545 

smoked uiid trembled with his artillery. About sunset 
the enemy assaulted his position, but were driven back. 

The next morning brought a renewal of the contest, 
and rebel shells and shot soon ploughed up the grave- 
yard in which Howard had taken up his headquarters. 
Reclining on a green hillock close beside a tombstone, 
with his staff about him, he steadily watched the prog- 
ress of the fight. The still graves around him, and the 
shrieking of shells overhead, reminded him of death, yet 
the marble slab near which he reclined was not more 
tranquil than he. As a minie ball whizzed past his head, 
one of those near him unconsciously dodged, but not a 
motion of his indicated that he heard it. The next 
might pierce his heart, but the thought gave him no un- 
easiness, for he had placed his life in the hands of his 
Maker, and reposed it serenely there. 

In the afternoon, when Lee, previous to his last des- 
perate assault, opened with nearly two hundred cannon 
on our lines. Cemetery Hill was subjected to a horrible 
fire. Shells ploughed up the graves, splintered the 
tombstones, and sent the earth flying in every direction* 
but Howard never moved his headquarters an inch. 
Calm as the dead slumbering beneath his feet, he sat 
amid the desolating fire, striving to pierce " the war- 
cloud rolling dun " beneath him, and detect the move- 
ments of the enemy. When the awful cannonade ceased, 
and the rebel lines came on in the last desperate charo-e, 
Howard ordered his men to lie down and his batteries 
to cease firing. The rebels thought they had been 
silenced, and advanced confidently, Avhen suddenly all 
who could see the advancing enemy sprang to their feet 
as one man and poured in an overwhelming volley, 
while the batteries with others opened again on the 



546 MAJOR-GENERAL OLIVER OTIS HOWARD. 

shaking lines, rending the solid formations like gossa- 
mer. The rebels, stunned and appalled by the awful de- 
struction that suddenly engulfed them, threw down their 
arms by companies, and whole regiments surrendered en 
masse. The Eleventh, amid its comrades, had redeemed 
itself, and Howard gazed with pride on his victorious 
troops. Seeing Hancock's corps sorely pressed, the 
rebel flags being actually planted on his works, he 
opened a terrible enfilading fire on the exposed ranks 
from his batteries under Osborne, his chief of artillery, 
that nothing human could endure, and the whole rebel 
line fell bleeding back, and victory was ours. That 
was a proud day for Howard ; the disgrace of Chancel- 
lorsville was wiped out, and his corps once more worthy 
to stand in the noble Army of the Potomac. 

His and Slocum's corps were both detached from 
the Army of the Potomac a little while after this battle, 
and despatched to Chattanooga to reinforce Rosecrans, 
who was heavily pressed by Bragg. 

Previous to the arrival of Sherman across the country 
from Mississippi, Hooker, who was put in command of 
the two corps, crossed the Tennessee on the pontoon 
bridge, laid by Hazen, in order to take possession of 
Lookout Valley. Howard's corps at once moved up 
towards Brown's Ferry, his winding columns in full 
view of the enemy on the lofty heights above, who tried 
in vain to cut them in two with their shells. About 
six o'clock that night (the 26th of October) he went 
into camp a short distance from the Ferry, the other 
columns led by Geary having encamped three miles 
back. In the interval between them the enemy's sharp- 
shooters now penetrated, firing into our trains across the 
river, and he sent out three companies to scatter or cap- 



LOOKOUT VALLEY. 547 

ture them, and then made his final dispositions for the 
night. The autumnal evening passed quietly away, 
and the camp slumbered in repose until midnight, when 
a dropping fire of musketry from skirmishing parties 
aroused him. It, however, did not increase ; but an 
hour later his ear caught — three miles away towards 
Geary — the muffled sonnd of rapid, heavy musketry 
firing. It was plain that the enemy was making a fierce 
onslaught on him, and ordering the drums to beat to 
arms, he started off Schurz's division on the double 
quick through the gloom; The rattling of their arms 
and, rapid measured beat of their tread had hardly died 
away in the distance, when another division followed 
after, and " Forward ! " " Forwai'd ! " rang through the 
night air,while down through the valley rushed the pant- 
ing columns. But before they reached Geary, while 
sweeping on a run along the base of a ridge two hundred 
feet high, a sheet of flame suddenly burst upon them 
from its sides and top. The force here being on their 
flank must be dislodged before proceeding farther, and 
Colonel O. Smith wheeled about, and charging up the 
cliff, almost inaccessible by daylight, and through the 
underbrush, upon unknown numbers, carried the heights 
with loud shouts. Geary, though at one time nearly 
surrounded, after two hours of desperate fighting drove 
back the enemy, which now retired to Lookout Moun- 
tain, and the important valley was in our possession. 

In the battle of Missionary Ridge, and pursuit of 
the enemy, he bore his part gallantly and well. 

In the Atlanta campaign the next spring, in com- 
mand of the fourth Arm}^ Corps under Thomas, he main- 
tained his old renown, winning at every step the in- 
creasing confidence of Sherman, 



548 MAJOR-GENERAL OLIVER OTIS HOWARD. 

In the fierce onslaught of the rebels upon our lines 
before Atlanta, on the 27th of July, 1864, which has 
alread}^ been described, Howard, who had been placed 
over the Army of the Tennessee after the death of 
McPherson, held it to the frightful struggle with a 
steadiness and heroism never before excelled, com- 
manding the 15th, 16th and 17th Corps. 

His last fight in this campaign was at Jonesboro, 
whither on the Macon Road Sherman had transferred his 
army, thus securing the fall of Atlanta. Sherman, in 
placing Howard over the Army of Tennessee, showed 
his high appreciation of him. He was sorry to appear 
to slight Hooker, but knowing precisely what kind of 
lieutenants he wanted, he was able to select just the 
leaders that he ceuld most rely on in the hazardous ex- 
periment. 

In the following autumn, when he had pursued Hood 
till he was so far back towards the Tennessee that he 
could not trouble him in his anticipated movements 
across Georgia, he sat down one day on his camp-stool 
in front of his tent at Gaylesville and rapidly ran his 
finger over the map resting on his knee, while Howard 
and Slocum stood beside him. After studying ifawhile 
he planted his finger on Columbia, S. C, and looking u]) 
to Howard, to the no small astonishment of the latter, 
quietly remarked, " Howard, I believe we can go thei'e 
without any serious difficulty. If we can cross the Sal- 
kahatchie, we can capture Columbia." Then running 
his finger northward, over rivers and swamps, he con- 
tinued, as he stopped it at Goldsboro, " that point is a 
few days' march through a rich country, and when I 
reach it Lee must leave Virginia or be destroyed. We 
can make this march, for Grant tells me that Lee can't 



IN THE CAROLINAS. 549 

get away from Richmond without him." Sherman then 
unfolded his plans to these two generals, for he had al- 
ready determined that they should command the two 
whigs of his army in this long and hazardous march. 

Howard commanded the right wing in the Georgia 
campaign, the movements of which are given in detail 
in the sketch of Kilpatrick, whose cavalry did the prin- 
cipal fighting on the way to Savannah. 

When Sherman commenced, in Januar}^, his march 
north through the Carolinas, the right wing under 
Howard was carried in transports to Beaufort and thence 
taken to the main land, from whence it advanced along 
the Charleston Railroad and occupied Pocotaligo. Here 
he was stopped by torrents of rain, which flooded all 
the low ground, and the novel spectacle was witnessed 
of soldiers doing picket duty in boats and scows. 

By the last of January the waters had sufficiently 
subsided, and the Seventeenth and Fifteenth Corps 
moved in parallel roads, in the direction of the McPher- 
sonville, Howard being in person Avith the former. The 
enemy held the lines of the Salkahatchie in force, but 
Howard, with small loss, succeeded in carrying River's 
Bridge -by sending a part of his force through a swamp 
three miles wide — the cold water of which was never 
less than knee-deep, and often reaching to the shoulders. 
Across this, lifting their muskets above their heads, the 
soldiers forced their way, while still farther down Giles 
E. Smith floated his division over in canvas boats, and 
thus secured this formidable line of the enemy. 

Howard now pushed rapidly noi-th toward the rail- 
road connecting Augusta and Charleston, and reaching 
it near Midway, spent three days in destroying it. Push- 
ing on between the divided forces of the enemy — one 



550 MAJOR-GENERAL OLIVER OTIS HOWARD. 

part being in and near Augusta to the westward, and 
the other at Branch ville and Charleston to the eastward 
— he crossed tlie South Fork of the Edisto, and marched 
rapidly for Orangeburg. Leaving Brauchville and 
Columbia on his right, he, from this place, advanced 
straight on Columbia. By the 16th of February he 
was in front of the capital, and he and Sherman crossed 
the pontoon bridge that had been laid, side by side, and 
entered the conquered place. The fire was already rag- 
ing which the rebels had kindled to destroy the cotton, 
and the flames, fed by a tempest of wind that swept in 
fearful g-usts throuirh the streets, soon kindled a terrible 
conflagration that laid the place in ruins. Howard was 
up all night Laboring nobly to check the fire and pro- 
tect the distracted families that were turned homeless 
and houseless into the streets. From Columbia he first 
marched north toward Charlotte, and then struck east 
for Fayetteville, which he reached on the 11th of March, 
1865. Heavy rains had set in, which made his march 
a most difiicult and wasting one to his men. At Lynch 
Creek he spent three days in getting through a swamp, 
buildino- for miles and miles a corduroy road over mud 
into which the first layer of timber would sink out of 
sio-ht. At Cheraw he captured twenty-five cannon. 

Li marching from Fayetteville to Goldsboro, March, 
1865, the wings having been temporarily separated, he 
was compelled to leave his trains and hasten across the 
country to the aid of Slocum, who had the whole rebel 
army on his hands at Bentonville. The part he took 
in that engagement is given in the article on Slocum, 

He was promoted Brigadier-General U. S. A. Dec. 21, 

1864, and Brevet-Major-General U. S. A. M'ch 13, 1865. 

After the surrender of the rebel ai-raies and the close 



HIS CHARACTER. 551 

of the war, Howard was placed at the head of the Freed- 
iiieii's Bureau, at Washington, holdinp: this responsible 
position till 1872. There never was a more striking 
instance of putting the right man in the right place than 
this appointment. Firm, yet conciliatory — just and 
kind to the poor slav^e, yet without that blind fanaticism 
Avhicli some men designate philanthropy, with his best 
efforts he endeavored to adjust the difficulties connected 
with this unfortunate race. He was appointed, 1872, 
special Indian Commissioner to the hostile Apaches of 
New Mexico and Arizona; in 1877 he conducted the 
campaign against the hostile Nez Perces, pursuing them 
over 1,300 miles through Oregon, Washington, Idaho 
and Montana to their capture in 1878. He was Super- 
intendent U. S. Military Academy at West Point 1881 
-82. He was assigned the command of the Department 
of the East, headquarters Governors Island, N. Y., in 
1887. As a general, Howard possesses great tactical 
knowledge, and there is no man probably in the army 
who took in so quickly all the advantages and disad- 
vantages of a field on which he was to operate. The 
intuition, almost, which prompted him to seize Cemetery 
Hill, and hold it, and thus give us the battle of Gettys- 
burg, is an evidence of this. A battle is as often won 
by the proper disposition of the forces as by hard fight- 
ing, and in this he excels — though he is behind none, 
in the tenacity with which he holds his ground, and the 
fierceness of his onsets. Major Nichols, who accom- 
panied him from Atlanta to Goldsboro, says of him, 
" General Howard is a man whose religious convictions 
are intense, positive, entering into and coloring every 
event of his life. When exposed to fire, there is no 
braver man living than he. He does not go into action 



552 MAJOR-GENERAL OLIVER OTIS HOWARD. 

in the Cromwellian spirit, singing psalms and uttering 
prayers, but with a cool and quiet determination which 
is inspired by a lofty sense of a sacred duty to be per- 
formed. His courage is a realization of the strength of 
a spiritual religion, rather than a physical qualification. 
The general is constantly censui-ed for rashly exposing 
himself to the fire of the enemy, but it is difiicult to say 
whether the censure is just or not, for every commander 
of an army is the best judge of the. necessities of the hour." 
His personal appearance corresponds with his normal 
nature, for his face beams with kind and tender feeling, 
and one cannot look into those affectionate eyes with- 
out loving their possessor. Yet, with all this expression 
of gentleness, kindness, and patience, there is combined 
one of manly resolution and firmness of purpose that 
reveals the great leader. There is little profanity around 
his headquarters. Once hearing a soldier swearing fierce- 
ly in the full blaze of the enemy's fire, he said gently, 
"Don't swear so, my man. You may be killed at any 
moment. Surely you do not wish to go into the next 
world with dreadful oaths on your lips." Noble, gener- 
ous to a fault, and brave, he wins all hearts by the power 
of love — yet in the crash of the onset, and the tumult of 
a doubtful fight, he is the impersonation of cool courage. 
and terrible as a storm. To see him riding along the 
perilous edge of battle, all heedless of the screaming shot 
and shell, unconsciously waving that empty sleeve as a 
banner to liis men, is enough to make heroes of cowards 
and shame the last vestige of a craven spirit out of the 
most sordid wretch on earth. It is a glory to any nation 
to have such a man at the head of its armies, while his 
whole life is a sermon preached to the government, the 
army, and the people. 



CHAPTER XXIX. 

MAJOR-GENERAL QUINCY ADAMS GILLMORE. 

ins EARLY LIFE — WEST POINT — SENT TO FORTRESS MONROE — A TEACHER AT 
WEST POINT — STATIONED IN NEW YORK — CHIEF ENGINEER OP THE EX- 
PEDITION TO PORT ROYAL — HERCULEAN OPERATIONS AROUND PULASKI— 
CAPTURE OP THE PORT — COMMANDS IN WESTERN VIRGINIA — PLACED 
OVER THE SOUTHERN DEPARTMENT — ASSAULT OP FORT WAGNER — BOM- 
BARDMENT OP SUMTER — CAPTURE OF PORT WAGNER — CHARLESTON 
SHELLED — ORDERED NORTH TO CO-OPERATE WITH BUTLER BELOW RICH- 
MOND — HIS SERVICES IN THE FIELD — ASKS TO BE RELIEVED FROM 
SERVING UNDER BUTLER — ORDERED TO REPORT TO CANBY — PLACED 
AGAIN OVER THE SOUTHERN DEPARTMENT — CO-OPERATES WITH SHER- 
MAN. 

Few military men reach such an eminence as General 
Gillmore occupied, without ever having fought a pitched 
battle or won a great victory in the field. His victories 
have been those of practical military science alone ; but 
these have been so wonderful as to make his name known 
over the civilized world. 

He was born at Black River, Lorain county, Ohio, iii 
1825. Having obtained the appointment of cadet in the 
West Point Military Academ}^, he graduated in 1849, at 
the head of his class. Appointed First Lieutenant, he 
was sent to Hampton Roads and labored on the fortifica- 
tions there for three years. He was then made assistant 
professor of practical engineering at West Point, and for 



554 MAJOR-GENERAL QUINCY ADAMS GILLMORE. 

four years fulfilled the duties of this position with signal 
ability, acting also during the last year as quartermaster 
and treasurer of the Military Acadein3' . 

From 1856 to 1861 he resided in New York city, 
where he was stationed to purchase and send on supplies 
for the various fortifications scattered over our broad ter- 
ritory. 

In the fall of 1861, when the great expedition was 
fitted out against Port Royal, he was appointed chief 
engineer, under General T. W. Sherman, and after the 
victory of Dupont, superintended the construction of 
the fortifications, &c., at Hilton Head. The task next 
assigned him was the reduction of Fort Pulaski on 
Cockspur Island. Batteries on various neighboring 
islands were erected, amid difficulties that to a common 
observer would have seemed insurmountable. One or 
two extracts from Gill more's journal, will give a better idea 
of them than a long description : 

"Feb. 11. Continued getting battery and road ma- 
terials to Jones' Island during the day. * * * The 
work was done in the following manner: The pieces 
mounted on their carriages and limbered up were moved 
forward on shilling runways of planks laid end to end. 
Each party in chai'ge of the guns had one pair of planks 
in* excess of the number required, and timbers to rest 
upon when closed together. This extra pair of planks 
being placed in front in prolongation of those already 
under the carriages, the pieces were then drawn forward 
with drag ropes, one after another the length of a plank, 
thus freeing the two planks in the rear, which in their 
turn were carried to the front. This labor is of the most 
fatiguing kind." * * * * 

The final planting of the breaching batteries on Tybee 



HERCULEAN LABOR. 555 

[sland was also a most difficult task. This is a mud 
marsh, with here and there hummocks of firm ground. 
The distance from the landing to the position selected for 
the advance batteries was two miles and a half. The 
spot being in full view of Fort Pulaski, and within range 
of its guns, the men had to labor altogether in the 
night time, covering up their work with reeds, &c., so 
that daylight should not reveal what had been done. 
He says in his journal, " No one except an eyewitness 
can form any but a faint conception of the Herculean 
labor b}^ which mortars of eight and a half tons weight, 
and columbiads but a trifle lighter, were moved in the 
dead of night over a narrow causeway, bordered by 
swamps on either side, and liable at any time to be over- 
turned and buried in the mud beyond reach. The stra- 
tum of mud is about twelve feet dee}) ; and on several 
occasions the heaviest pieces, particularly the mortars, 
became detached from the sling carts, and were with 
great difficulty by the use of planks and skids kept from 
sinking to the bottom. Two hundred and fifty men were 
barely sufficient to move a single piece on sling carts. 
The men were not allowed to speak above a whisper, and 
were guided by the, notes of a whistle." Thus, night 
after night, in rain and storm, a whispering army of men 
slowly heaved along these monstrous pieces, and at length 
got them in position and protected, before the enemy 
dreamed what was going on. 

From the 21st of February to the 9th of April, these 
gigantic operations went on, until at last eleven batteries 
opened on the doomed place, and it fell. 

In September, Gillmore was assigned by General 
Wrio;ht to the command of the district of Western Vir- 



556 MAJOR-GENERAL QUINCY ADAMS GILLMORE. 

In Apri\ 1863, he attacked the rebels near Somerset, 
Kentucky, commanded by Pegram, and after a stubborn 
fight of two hours, stormed their position and drove them 
in confusion till night stopped the pursuit ; which, said a 
correspondent, " for six miles was marked by torn brush, 
scarred trees and dead horses." Altogether it was a very 
gallant affair, for the rebels outnumbered Gillmore's force 
two to one, and were, besides, behind entrenchments. 

In June, of this year. General Hunter was relieved from 
the command of the Department of the South, and Gillmore 
placed over it. From the moment he took command, he bent 
all his energies to the reduction of Sumter, and though 
he did not succeed in his endeavors, what he actually ac- 
complished raised him to the highest pinnacle of fame 
as an engineer. His first grand movement was to se- 
cure a lodgment on Morris Island, which he accom- 
plished on the 10th of July, and attempted to carry Fort 
Wagner b}- assault, but failed. He then strengthened 
his position and erected five batteries, all bearing on the 
fort. On the 18th, everything being ready, the iron-clads 
moved up, and at noon, a terrific bombardment from sea 
and land commenced, while Gillmore, from a wooden look- 
out, erected on a sand-hill, watched the effect. Fiftj^-four 
guns hurled their heavy metal, without a moment's inter- 
mission, against those ramparts of sand, from the land 
side, while six iron-clads thundered from the sea upon 
1 hem. But as night came on, the heavy roar of the big 
guns on land and sea gradually ceased, and slowly and 
sullenly the monitors, with the exception of the Montauk, 
moved back to the anchorage ground of the morning. 
"The music of the billows, forever hymning their sublime 
chaunts, was again heard along the shore, the sun went 
down, not in golden glory, but in clouds of blackness 



THE SWAMP ANGEL. 557 

and darkness, and amid mutterings of thunder and flashea 
of lio-htnino;. In the slio;ht interval between the cessa- 
tion of the cannonade and the assault at the point of the 
bayonet, the artillery of heaven opened all along the 
western horizon, and in peal after peal demonstrated how 
insignificant is the power of man when compared with 
that of Him who holds the elements in the hollow of His 
hand."* Then followed that terrible night assault, the 
sad history of which is so well known to all. 

Foiled here, Gillmore no^v resolved to shell Sumter, 
though two miles distant, over Forts Wagner and Gregg. 
But he had hardly begun to establish his batteries, before 
Beauregard detected their object, and immediately com- 
menced streno-thenino- the walls of the fort. Outside of 

o o 

it he piled a wall of sand bags, fifteen feet thick, and 
forty-five feet high, or to within fifteen feet of the para- 
pet. Inside, he built a similar wall, making a total 
thickness of sand bags and brick wall of thirty-five feet ! 
In a swamp, to the left of Sumter, Gillmore resolved 
to place a single gun battery, mounting a two hundred 
pound Parrot. Colonel Serrell had charge of its con- 
struction, and at once ordered one of his lieutenants to 
take twenty men and enter the swamp and prepare the 
foundation for it to rest upon. The lieutenant soon re- 
ported that it could not be done, for it was nothing but 
a bed of mortar. " Try it," replied the colonel. He did ; 
and with his men covered with mire returned, and said 
that he could not do it, for the mud was over the men's 
heads. " But it must be done," replied the colonel, " it 
is General Gillmore's orders ; so make your requisitions for 
everything you want, and it shall be furnished forthwith." 
The lieutenant at once sat down to the table and wrote — 

* New York Tribhne account. 



558 MAJOR-GENERAL QUINCY ADAMS GILLMORE. 

" Wanted, twenty men, eighteen feet long, to cross a 
swamp fifteen feet deep! " Still, the object was finally ac 
complished ; and that, too, without men of that extraor- 
dinary altitude. " Two miles and a half of bridges,"' 
says a writer in the United States Service Magazine^ "are 
built across this marsh, leading to the position chosen tor 
the battery; "our men carry ten thousand sand bags filled 
with sand more than two miles, and bring over three 
hundred large logs and pieces of timber more than ten 
miles, to make a battery. Its erection requires the work 
df a thousand men during seven nights, and its position 
is concealed from the rebels by having it covered in the 
laytime with brushwood. After breaking by its great 
.veigiit several trucks, the monster gun is finally hauled 
up and placed in position. Charleston, four miles and a 
half away, little dreams that the swamp angel is looking 
into her streets." The La Fresse, of Paris, published an 
article on Gillmore's operations at this time, which was 
transferred to the French Journal of Military Science^ 
a magazine of the highest authority in Europe, in 
w hich the writer says : " Prodigies of talent, audacity, 
intrepidity, and perseverance, are exhibited in the at- 
tack, as in the defence of this city, which will assign to 
the siege of Charleston an exceptional place in military 
annals. * * One is struck with amazement on reading 
in the journals and letters from America, the details of 
this contest, in which the two adversaries ought to feel 
mutual astonishment, as they rightfully astonish the whole 
world by their daily proofs of superhuman heroism." 

By the morning of the 18th, Gillmore had his batteries 
all ready to open fire. Fort Sumter, unconscious of the 
awful storm that was about to burst on her, fired her 
morning gun as usual, the echo rolling away over the 



BOMBARDMENT OF WAGNER. 559 

summer sea, and ran up all her flags. But in a short 
time the Ironsides and monitors were seen slowly mov- 
ing up the bay, when he gave the order for the b:mbard- 
ment to commence. All the rebel forts around replied ; 
the iron-clads joined in, throwing their heavy metal into 
Fort Wagner, and from sea and land it thundered all day 
long, as though the whole artillery of heaven was exploding 
over that fearful spot. Toward night, as the light of the 
setting sun streamed across the face of Sumter, it showed a 
breach made clean through the wall of sand-bags, reveal- 
ing the brick wall beyond. All night long, Gillmore kept 
up a slow fire, and next morning, clouds of brick-dust 
rising in the air showed that the huge structure was 
yielding to the ponderous blows that were raining upon it. 
Gillmore, having got the work of demolition under 
way, gave the garrison no time to repair breaches ; but 
night and day rained shot and shell into the works, until 
the 2)arapet at length crumbled away, and the barbette 
guns with it. The well-nigh impregnable wall of sand- 
bags disappeared, the solid Nvall itself was ploughed 
through, and at the end of seven days, the regular out- 
lines of the fort disappeared, and it loomed up from the 
water a jagged ruin. Gillmore now determined to throw 
incendiary shells, or Greek fire, as it is called, into 
Charleston, four or five miles away ; but before commenc- 
ing sent a flag of truce to Beauregard, informing him of 
his purpose, and demanding the surrender of the city. 
The latter did not deign a reply, and the astonished in- 
habitants saw huge masses of metal, as though descend- 
ing from the clouds, dropping in their midst, Avith the 
crash of exploding cannon, and sending streams of fire 
flaming on every side, Beauregard remonstrated against 
the act as barbarous ; but in vain. Still, the shells did 



560 MAJOR-GENERAL QUINCY ADAMS GILLMORE. 

but little damage, as most of them exploded before they 
reached the city. 

Gillmore now determined to take Fort Wagner by 
sapping, and so get nearer Sumter and Charleston. In 
two weeks' time a ditch, which, if laid out in a straight 
line, would reach ten miles, was dug, and our troops at 
length crowned the counterscarp of the fort ; where, with 
a single bound, they could be inside. Beauregard, seeing 
that its fate was sealed, evacuated it the night before the 
assault was to take place. The troops, lying in the 
trenches waiting for the first streak of dawn, to rush to 
the assault, were informed by a deserter that the eiiemy 
had left, and with loud cheers they leaped upon the parapet 
and waved their flags from the summit. They then 
dashed forward toward Fort Gregg, on the end of the 
island, Avhich they also found evacuated. 

This put the whole of Morris Island in our posses- 
sion. On Cumniings Point Gillmore now erected 
his batteries, and pounded Fort Sumter till it was a 
heap of rubbish, and sent shells daily into Charleston 
City ; driving away the inhabitants, and making it deso- 
late almost as Edom. 

But the mass of debris that lay piled above the case- 
mates of the fort made them absolutely impregnable, and 
hi spite of Gillm ore's efforts, the rebel flag still waved 
over it. Six months passed wearily — Sumter was as- 
saulted — monitors were lost — fearful bombardments took 
place, yet no advance was made toward capturing Charles- 
ton. But though he did not succeed in the final object 
for which he labored, his operations were a splendid tri 
umph of engineering skill, that astonished the w^orld. 

When, in the spring of '64, Grant began his great 
campaign against Richmond, he ordered Gillmore, with 



SCIENCE VERSUS IGNORANCE. 561 

the Tenth Corps, north, to operate under Butler against 
the rebel capital of the South. If he had placed the 
former in supreme command, Petersburg would have 
been his long before he reached the James River. 

When Butler advanced to take possession of the rail- 
road between Petersburg and Richmond, Gillmore, at 
the head of the Tenth Corps, commanded the left wing, 
and by a skilful flank movement carried the western part 
of the enemy's works for three miles, and secured a very 
advantageous position. Here he wished to intrench, but 
Butler pompously replied that his movement was not a 
defensive but an offensive one. He was going to show 
to General Grant and the country, that one of the most 
accomplished West Point officers in it had, after all, but 
partially completed his education, and so refused to 
throw up any protection for the troops. The consequence 
Avas, that two days after, in the midst of a dense fog, the 
rebels swooped down on the right, and falling suddenly 
on the Eighteenth Corps, bore it, after three hours' fight- 
ing, back, when Butler ordered a general retreat. Gill- 
more, made of different stuff, at first refused to obey, de- 
claring that he could hold his position, and begged earn- 
estly to be allowed to do so. But Butler peremptorily 
ordered him to fall back immediately, and the defeated 
army retreated seven miles to Bermuda Hundred — losing 
its valuable position, in occupying which Butler had tele- 
graphed that the Southern army was effectually cut off 
from Lee ; and besides, two guns, and nearly three thou- 
sand prisoners. In speaking of this disgraceful affair, 
the New York Times says : " The truth ought to have 
been plain enough at the outset, that military science de- 
mands as systematic and protracted study as that of law 
or medicine ; and that it is just as absurd to improvise a 



562 MAJOR-GENERAL QUINCY ADAMS GILLMORE. 

general from a lawjer or a mercliaiit, as to improvise a 
judge from a schoolmaster, or a physician fk-om a me- 
chanic. The want of professional training is just as sure 
to make military charlatans, as to make legal or medical 
charlatans. It is astonishing hoAv slow our Government 
and the people have been to recognize so simple a truth." 
So, in the attack on Petersburg, which failed, Butler en- 
deavored to put the blame on Gillmore. 

Of course the latter became disgusted with such a 
leader, and asked to be relieved from his command. His 
wish was granted, and he was ordered to join the army 
opposed to Early, in Maryland. 

In July, while following up the rebels at the head of 
a portion of the Nineteenth Corps, he was thrown from 
his horse, and injured his ankle severely. In this same 
month he was made major-general ; thus showing what 
the President thought of his merits as compared with 
those of Butler. 

In the latter part of the year, he was ordered to re- 
port to Major-General Canby, to perform an inspection 
tour of the defences and fortifications of the West, but 
we find him next spring again over the Southern De- 
partment, cooperating with Sherman in the Carolinas 
supplying Wilson, and occupying Augusta. 

General Gillmore, then but forty years of age, stood 
at the head of the engineering officers of the world and 
his performances before Charleston will constitute a part 
of the text-books on siege operations in all the military 
schools of civilized nations. As one of the judges of 
the Centennial Exhibition, 1876, he made elaborate re- 
ports on cements, pavements and artificial stones and 
brickmaking machinery. He was the author of several 
works pertaining to the War and engineering. He died 
in Brooklyn, April 7th, 1888. 



CHAPTER XXX 



MAJOR GENERAL GOTJVERNEUR K. WARREN. 



SyAB. MAKES AI^D MARS FORTUNES QUICKLY — WARREN'S NATIVITY— GRABTJATES 
AT WEST POINT — SENT TO THE SOUTHWEST — SUCCEEDS LEE ON THE MIS- 
SISSIPPI — HIS GREAT LABORS IN THE PACIFIC RAILROAD OFFICE — CAM- 
PAIGN AGAINST THE SIOUX INDIANS — EXPLORES NEBRASKA— APPOINTED 
PROFESSOR OF MATHEMATICS AT WEST POINT — MADE LIEUTENANT- 
COLONEL OP VOLUNTEERS — BIG BETHEL — BUILDS THE WORKS ON FEDER- 
AL HILL, BALTIMORE — MADE COLONEL — ACTS AS BRIGADIER IN THE 
ARMY OF THE POTOMAC— HIS GALLANTRY AT MALVERN HILL HIS BRI- 
GADE CUT UP AT MANASSAS — ANTIETAM — TOPOGRAPHICAL ENGINEER AT 
CHANCELLORSVILLE — ENGINEER- IN-CHIEF AT GETTYSBURG NARROW ES- 
CAPE — MADE MAJOR-GENERAL — BATTLE OF BRISTOE STATION — COMMANDS 
THE CENTRE OF THE ARMY OF THE POTOMAC UNDER GRANT — BATTLE 
OF THE WILDERNESS — HIS GALLANTRY AT SPOTTSYLVANIA — NORTH 
ANNA — DESTROYS THE WELDON RAILROAD — SAVES SKBRIDAN AT FIVE 
FORKS— RELIEVED FROM CO.VTMAND — IFTBR SERVICE, ftO. 



It is a common sajdng that war makes and destroys 
reputations rapidly. " In a single hour a man may reach 
an elevation that causes the eyes of the civilized world to be 
directed on him, and in the same short interval do that which 
will consign him to an immortality worse than oblivion. 
The " fortune of war " is proverbial. Circumstances ovei 
which the man himself had no control may combine to 
place him in a position where acquitting himself with no 
more gallantry and skill than a thousand others similarly 
situated would do, he yet rises at once to rank and fame, 
36 



564 MAJOR-GENERAL GOUVERNEUR K. WARREN. 

Sometimes such men have sufficient strength of charac- 
ter to retain what fortune so generously gives them, and 
prove by their future conduct that they deserve what they 
have obtained, but in many instances they show them- 
selves unequal to the responsibilities which their sudden 
elevation brings with it, and descend as rapidly as they 
rose. Others attain to the hisrhest rank without havino; 
done anything which in popular estimation entitles them 
to it, and yet which they fill with consumma,te ability. 
These last rise not by fortune, but 'solid merit, hard every- 
day work that tells on an army, but which is unseen and 
unfelt outside of it The War Department and the leading 
commanders know and appreciate such men, and are 
compelled to avail themselves of their knowledge and 
ability. 

Warren and McPherson are two most remarkable 
examples of this class of officers. The people scarcely 
knew of the latter until, to their astonishment, they were 
told that Grant in the East and Sherman in the West, 
were weeping over him as a great man fallen. So of the 
former, though his name often appeared in public 
despatches, but little was known of him until it was an- 
nounced that a young man only thirty-four years old had 
been entrusted by Grant with the command of the 
centre of his grand army as he moved across the Rapidan 
to meet Lee in what he expected to be the decisive battle 
of the war. It was no common military ability that se- 
cured this position. There was a score of veteran officers 
whose names were as familiar as household words to the 
nation, whom one would have selected for this responsible 
position, yet Grant put Warren there, and simply because 
he knew^ his great abilit}^ 

Gouverneur K. Warren was born in Cold Spring, New 



SUCCEEDS LEE. 565 

York State, January 8th, 1830, and hence was only 
thirty-one when the war broke out. He entered West 
Point at the early age of sixteen, and yet graduated second 
in a class of forty-five, thus showing that at the age of 
twenty he was head and shoulders above his- compeers. 
Brevetted second-lieutenant in the Engineer Corps, he 
was employed in the survey of the Mississippi Delta, 
under the present General Humphreys. He remained 
here for three years, and then took the place of Lee, who 
had charge of the rapids of the Mississippi at Rock 
Island and Des Moines. As he succeeded the future 
rebel general, in charge, so Joe Johnston succeeded him. 
In 1854 he was employed under Jeff. Davis in the Missis- 
sippi railroad office, where he rendered signal service. 
Humphreys, in his report to the War Department when 
he took charge of the Pacific Railroad office, says, " I 
found that the preparation of the material for the general 
map was a work of great labor, and the superintendence of 
its construction and drawing had been intrusted to Lieut. 
G. K. Warren," &c. &c. "Lieut. Warren has continued 
in charge of the office duties which include the critical 
examination of the reports, maps, profiles and all the 
original data submitted by the exploring parties and 
others, and reports upon the results; the preparations of 
the general map and its engraving ; the compilation of 
profiles of all the routes recently explored and previously 
examined barometrically, the preparation of all the maps, 
profiles, and other drawings made in the office," &c., &c., 
and finally adds, " In addition to this, he has largely 
aided me in making this report." This exhibits a pro- 
ficiency and ripeness in his profession seldom witnessed 
in a young man of twenty-four. 

In 1855 he served under Harney in an expedition 



566 MAJOR-GENERAL GOUVERNEUR K. WARREN. 

against the Sioux Indians, and had two engagements 
with them in which many were killed. In chasing the 
savages over the distant sand-plains of the frontier, he 
took his first lesson in actual war. In 1856 and '57 
he explored the Nebraska Territory. The Smithsonian 
Institute published his report of Geological Explora- 
tions. 

Afterwards, he was transferred to West Point, and 
in 1859 and '60 was Assistant Professor of Mathe- 
matics. In the meantime, however, he had been pro- 
moted, being made full second lieutenant in 1854, and. 
first lieutenant in July, 1856. When the war broke out, 
he asked leave of absence to serve in the volunteer army, 
and in April was appointed lieut. -colonel of the Fifth 
New York regiment. He was in the battle of Big 
Bethel, and, with Dr. Winslow, brought off the wounded 
after it was over. The next August, he was made colo- 
nel, and in the following month promoted to captain in 
the regular army. He was stationed at Fortress Monroe, 
and afterwards served under General Dix, in Baltimore, 
and built the works on Federal Hill. Joining the Army 
of the Potomac at Yorktown, he was attached to the 
heavy artillery, under Tyler. Acting as brigadier, he 
took part in the battle of Hanover Court House, and was 
also in that of Gaines' Mill. Attached to Sykes' division 
in the retreat, he, on the evening of the 30th, when 
near Malvern Hill, was attacked by tlie enemy, Avhom he 
gallantly repulsed, capturing two guns. In all these en- 
gagements he showed rare ability, and at Malvern Hill 
so distinguished himself by his gallantry, that he was 
made brigadier-general. 

He served under Pope in his Virginia campaign, and 
in the battle of Manassas held his brigade under such a 



TOPOGRAPHICAL ENGINEER. 567 

murderous fire, and carried it forward so fiercely, that he 
lost a third of his men — a fearful mortality. He was 
under Porter, at Antietam, but afterwards became at- 
tached to Hooker's division. When the latter assumed 
command of the Army of the Potomac, he made Warren 
Chief Topographical Engineer, who rendered efficient, 
service in the disastrous battle of Chancellorsville ; and 
after it was over, rode across the country to inform 
Sedo;ewick of the condition of thino;s. 

He was now made Topographical Engineer-iu-Chief 
of the Army of the Potomac. Just previous to the battle 
of Gettysburg he obtained leave of absence, and hasten- 
ing North, was married, and the same afternoon left 
again for the army. In the battle itself his duties led him 
everywhere over the field, and once, as he was crossing it 
under a heavy tire, a bullet cut his chin underneath, in- 
flicting a slight wound. On the second day he stood 
on Kound Top Hill alone, not a soldier near, and saw the 
enemy sweeping round upon it. He instantly flew his 
signal, and kept it waving, until a brigade dashed for- 
ward and occupied it. 

He was soon after made major-general of volunteers, 
to date from Chancellorsville, and given the command of 
the Second Corps. 

When, in the following October, Meade lay along the 
Rapidan, Warren was accustomed to put on a soldier s 
uniform, and reconnoitre the enemy's position. In this 
garb he was allowed to stray into a proximity, where, as 
a general officer, he would have been shot. In this man- 
ner he obtained much valuable information. 

When Lee here suddenly outflanked Meade, com- 
pelling him to retreat in great haste, Warren com- 
manded the rear-guard. Near Bristoe Station, the 



568 MAJOR-GENERAL GOUVERNEUR K. WARREN. 

rebels made a sudden and heavy onset upon him, and 
at first, having all their batteries planted, possessed 
greatly the advantage. But Warren, who now for the 
first time had an opportunity to display his great abilities 
as a strategist, soon reversed this state of things — and the 
manner in which he chose his position, handled his troops, 
and planted his batteries, and for five hours repelled 
every effort of the enemy to advance, and finally drove 
him to cover, showed him to be perfect master of the art 
of war, and called forth a congratulatory order from Gen- 
eral Meade. He captured, in this engagement, five guns, 
two colors, and four hundred and fifty prisoners. The 
precision, promptitude, and sagacity he exhibited in this 
his first field, on which he commanded separately, made 
him at once a conspicuous man in the army. Dash and 
daring do not go so far with military men as with the 
public, and a battle so completely planned and perfectly 
fought as this, could not escape the observation of such 
men as Meade and Grant. 

When the army began its great campaign against 
Kichmond next spring, and crossed the Rapidan, War- 
ren, at the head of the Fifth Corps, held the centre. In 
the first day's battle in the Wilderness, though he ad- 
vanced boldly against the enemy, he was at length com- 
pelled to fall back with the loss of two guns. The second 
day, in reinforcing the hard pressed wings, he reduced 
his corps to two divisions, yet with these he firmly main- 
tained his position. 

In followmg up Lee to Spottsylvania, Warren was 
told that only a body of rebel cavalry held it, and oi- 
dered to push on and take it. He immediately sent for- 
ward a portion of his force, which ran right into a whole 
rebel corps, and was terribly cut up. When the tidings 



A GALLANT ACTION. 569 

reached Warren, he put spurs to his horse, and dashing 
forward, reached the front just as Robinson's division was 
breaking in great disorder. Instantly seizing the colors, 
he planted them amid the rebel fire, and by his voice 
and gallant bearing rallied the division, whose leader 
had fallen ; but in the daring act had his horse shot under 
him. 

In the flank movement to the North Anna, Warren 
crossed the river without opposition, at Jericho's Ford — 
his men wading^ it breast deep. In the severe fight that 
followed, he handled his troops with such skill and sue. 
cess, and punished the enemy so severely, that Meade 
complimented him publicly. 

All through that terrific battle in the Wilderness, at 
Spottsylvania, North Anna, and on till the army sat 
down before Petersburg, he exhibited a tactical skill and 
fighting power unsurpassed by the oldest general in the 
field, and equalled by few. We have not space to follow 
him in all these movements, nor in those which took place 
in the lono- sieoje of Kichmond. 

In the fore-part of December, with his own corps and 
a part of the Second, he moved out of his camps down 
the Jerusalem plank road, crossed the Nottaway on pon- 
toons, and proceeded as far as the Meherrin River ; de- 
stroying twenty miles of the Weldon railroad, besides 
station-houses and bridges. On his return he burned 
Sussex Court House, in retaliation for brutal treatment 
and murder of some of our stragglers; and was back 
m his old quarters before the rebels had fairly waked up 
to see what a terrible blow had been struck them. 

We now come to Warren s last active service in the 
field. When Grant made his great movement on the en- 
emy's right flank, by which the evacuation of Petersburg 



570 MAJOR-GENERAL GOUVERNEUR K. WARREN. 

and Richmond was secured, Sheridan, it is known, took 
the advance on our extreme lelt, and pushed on to Din- 
widdie Court House. A few miles beyond it, at Five 
Forks, he came upon the enemy, and was defeated, 
and compelled to fall back to Dinwiddie. Warren's 
corps was at once sent to his relief. It had been fighting 
all day, yet he sent a portion of it forward immediately, 
which marched all night, reaching Sheridan next morn- 
ing. The rest of his corps rapidly followed, and War- 
ren, as ordered, rej)orted to Sheridan on, his arrival, who 
immediately assumed entire command. Deeming hint- 
self now strong enough to resume the offensive, the latter 
moved forward — the rebels retiring as he advanced — un- 
til he at length drew up in front of the strong entrench- 
ments at Five Forks. Warren was now directed to 
move with his whole corps on the enemy's left flank, 
while the cavalry attacked in front. With his usual skill 
and promptitude, he advanced on the strong position in 
three lines of battle, and sweeping steadily down, carried 
everything before him ; capturing the rebel artillery, 
which was attempting to move north, and many prison- 
ers. Finding the rebel front still holding its ground 
against Sheridan's cavalry, he, without ^vaiting to reform, 
swooped down on the hostile line, breaking it to frag- 
ments, and giving the cavalry a chance to dash in and 
finish the work. Warren, in this last movement, rode 
with his staff in the front, and was still there just at 
dusk, his men shouting the victory, when he received 
Sheridan's order relieving him from command, and direct- 
ing him to report to Grant. Before doing so, he sought 
a personal interview, and asked the reason of his being 
relieved. With strange discourtesy and injustice, the lat- 
ter refused to give him any. 



HIS CHARACTER, 571 

How Grant viewed this proceeding, may be inferred 
from the fact that he immediately placed Warren in com- 
mand of the defences of City Point and Bermuda Hun- 
dred. 

In May he was assigned to the command of the Mis- 
sissippi Department, but he did not retain it long, and 
offered his resignation as major-general of volunteers. 

He asked for an investigation, but Grant replied that 
it was impossible, in the disturbed state of affairs, to as- 
semble a court of enquiry at the time, and so the matter 
dropped. Although this was unjust to Warren, perhaps 
it was quite as well it should rest so. The war was over, 
the country jubilant and filled with praises of Sheridan, 
who had fought nobly, and contributed largely to the 
capture of Lee. A court of enquiry would of course have 
been compelled to censure him — an ungracious task just 
then — while his condemnation would have changed the 
opinion of scarcely any one in or out of the army. The 
people felt that it was an act of injustice, born of sudden 
impatience and excitement, such as he has often commit- 
ted, and were sorry that he had been guilty of it, but 
preferred to forget it in consideration of his gallant serv- 
ices ; while among military men, if it had any effect at 
all, it only raised Warren higher in their estimation. A 
court of enquiry, therefore, would have had no effect on 
his reputation, though, as an act of justice, it was de- 
manded. He could much better afford to let it pass than 
Sheridan could. A sudden act of injustice may be par- 
doned: persisting in it constitutes its cliief criminality. 

Warren, then a young man of thirty-five, had a future 
before him, the character of which may be inferred 
from the past. He died in 1882. A heroic statue was 
erected to his memory on the field of Gettysburg in 1 888. 



CHAPTER XXXI. 

GENERAL GEORGE B. McCLELLAN. 

HIS BIRTH — ENTERS WEST POINT MILITARY ACADEMY — GRADUATES AT THE HEAD 
OF HIS CLASS — WAR WITH MEXICO— HIS HORSE SHOT FROM UNDER HIM AT 

CONTRERAS— PROMOTED— SENT ON EXPLORING EXPEDITIONS WEST RESIGNS 

FROM THE ARMY — BECOMES ENGINEER-IN -CHIEF OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI 

AND CINCINNATI RAILROAD VOLUNTEERS AT THE BREAKING OUT OF THE 

CIVIL WAR— MADE MAJOR-GENERAL OP VOLUNTEERS AND SENT TO WEST 
VIRGINIA — IN A CAMPAIGN OF EIGHT DAYS DRIVES OUT THE ENEMY — PUT 
IN COMMAND OF THE ARMY OF THE POTOMAC— REORGANIZES IT — PLAN TO 
TAKE RICHMOND — ON THE EVE OF SUCCESS DESERTED AND BETRAYED BY 
THE SECRETARY OF WAR — BATTLE OF FAIR OAKS — RETREAT TO JAMES 
RIVER — RECALLED TO WASHINGTON — POPE PUT IN HIS PLACE AND DE- 
FEATED AT EVERY POINT — AS A LAST RESORT MCCLELLAN PUT AGAIN AT 
THE HEAD OF THE ARMY — SAVES THE CAPITAL AT ANTIETAM — REWARDED 
BY DISMISSAL FROM THE ARMY — HIS LIFE AFTER THE WAR — HIS CHARACTER 
AND DEATH. 

George B. McClellan was born in Philadelphia, 
December 3, 1826. He graduated at West Point 
Academy in 1842. Stonewall Jackson was in the same 
class. He led his class in mathematics. He went 
through the Mexican War in 1846, under General 
Scott as Lieutenant, and rose steadily in rank. He was 
conspicuous for his coolness under fire, and had a horse 
shot from under him at Contreras. In 1845 he was ap- 
pointed assistant instructor in mathematics at West 
Point. With Captain Marcy, his future father-in-law, he, 
in 1851, was sent to explore Ped Piver and afterwards 
Texas. In 1853 he was engaged in Engineer duty in 
Oregon and Washington Territories, and later on the 

573 



514: 

Pacific Coast. In 1857 he resigned from the army to 
accept the place of Chief Engineer of the St. Louis, 
Missouri and Cincinnati Railroad. 

When the war broke out he immediately offered his 
services to his country and was made Major-General 
of Volunteers, and ordered into Western Virginia to 
take command of the troops operating there. He 
routed the Confederate General stationed there, and 
when Lee took his place drove him back also, and 
in a campaign of eight days cleared the region, captur- 
ing 1,000 prisoners. This short and brilliant campaign 
electrified the North ; all eyes were turned to him as 
the coming man. 

The battle of Bull Kun that, during this summer, 
stunned the North and changed the shout of " On to 
Richmond" into howls of rage, and disappointment, 
and cui'ses of the imbeciles who ruled at Washington, 
roused the Government to a sense of the danger 
that threatened it, and McClellan was immediately 
summoned to the capital and made Major-General. As 
there was no full Major-General but Scott, he would 
naturally assume the command if the latter should re- 
sign, as it was supposed he would, as his age and infir- 
mities forbade his taking the field. This he soon did 
and McClellan assumed the supreme command. He 
was a comparatively young man — only thirty-five — and 
the task before him w^as one that might have staggered 
Napoleon himself. With a mere handful of regular 
troops he was to organize and fit for the field an im- 
mense army of raw recruits. 

The Government at once issued a call for men and 
the response was overwhelming. McClellan, who asked 
only for patie^ice and forhearance, at once set to work 



SUCCEEDS GEN. SCOTT IN COMMAND OF THE ARMY. 575 

to organize and drill and fit for the field this crude but 
splendid material. Amid cries of "On to Richmond" 
and hostile criticism he moved on in the even tenor of 
his way till he had an army — the Grand Army of the 
Potomac, as it came to be called — ready for the field. 
In the mean time he had studied out and completed 
the plan of a campaign, grand in its proportions, and 
which, if allowed to be carried out, almost certain of 
success. This contemplated not merely the capture of 
Richmond, but of the rebel army also. The army he 
had , divided into five departments, all to act in unison 
with the main army in the way and at the time he 
should designate. In accordance with this plan, Mc- 
Clellan, with the army directly under his command, 
was to proceed to Fortress Monroe, while McDowell 
with his corps was to land on Mobjack Bay on the 
Severn River, and marching to a position nearly oppo- 
site AVest Point, cut off the rebel army of the Peninsula. 
If this plan had been carried out one of two things would 
have happened, either McDowell's march would have 
been a surprise and the rebel army cooped up between 
him and McClellan and captured, or, advised of its danger, 
fallen back on Richmond. In the latter case there would 
have been no delay at Yorktown of McClellan's army, 
and no battle at all till the army reached Richmond. 
The enemy then would have had no time to fortify the 
place or concentrate his forces which lay scattered over 
a wide territory. In this comparatively helpless con- 
dition the rebel army would have been compelled to 
surrender the capital. But when McCle^an reached 
Forti-e.-^s Monroe with hi>; army, to his uttei- consternation 
and dismay he was informed that the powers at Wash- 
ington had suddenly broken up this plan and neither 



576 MAJOIl-GENERAL GEORGE B. M CLELLAN. 

McDowell nor Banks was to join him. All remon- 
strance on the part of McClellan was in vain. It was 
in vain for him to protest against this breaking np of 
the whole plan of the campaign, and declare that on 
the Government ^vould rest the blame of its failni-e. 

To get himself out of this painful dilemma the 
Secretary of War promised that when he advanced on 
Richmond, McDowell, from the North, should advance 
on it also by way of Hanover Court House. With this 
understanding, which it is evident Stanton never meant 
to cany out, for the one dominant purpose of his heart 
was to get McClellan out of the way, McClellan was 
fain to be content and fought his way towards the 
capital till his army lay along the Chickahominy close 
to Hichmond. This long delay, of course, gave the 
enemy time to throw up strong fortifications. After 
battling with unexpected floods that turned the country 
into a lake, and swept the bridges from the river, and 
being attacked while the part of the army only was 
over, he, after incredible effort, stood drawn up ready 
for the final attack. He issued a stirring address to 
his army, for, though betrayed and cheated at every 
step by the unscrupulous Secretary of Waj-, he still 
believed that McDowell was mai'ching towards him. 
He sent troops as far as Hanover to help clear the way 
and the pickets of the two armies had met. A few 
days more and they would lock hands and move to- 
gether on Richmond. At this critical moment Stanton 
sent a despatch to McClellan stating that McDowell 
had been recalled to defend Washington. Amazed, 
stunned, almost terrified at this betrayal, and left alone, 
he looked around him bewildered. To stay thei'e dur- 
ing the hot malarious season and wait till other troops 
could be sent him was impossible. 



HIS DESPATCH TO THE SECRETARY OF WAR. 577 

To move on the enemy's works alone was to sacrifice 
his noble army. The only course left, therefore, was to 
retreat. But the question was, Would he be allowed 
to do so ? Lee had found out that McDowell was mov- 
ing back towards Washington, and immediately called 
in his troops from ever}^ quarter, Jackson's corps among 
the rest, until he had an army nearly double that of 
McClellan, and he at once determined on a furious as- 
sault, and the desperate battle of Fair Oaks followed. 

On the 26th of June the storm burst. That even- 
ing McClellan wrote a despatch to Stanton in which he 
says : " I know that a few thousand more men would 
have changed this battle from a defeat into a victory. 
As it is, the government must not hold me responsible 
for the result. If I save this army now, I tell you 
plainly that I owe no thanks to you or any other per- 
sons in Washington. You have done your best to 
sacrifice this army." 

What an arraignment of the commander of an 
army against a Secretary of War. We cannot go over 
the prolonged and terrible battles that followed in the 
masterly retreat, up to one of the most terrific battles 
ever fought — that of Malvern Hill — when McClellan 
drew up the decimated, bleeding, angry army on the 
banks of the James River, where by his prudent fore- 
sight gun-boats had arrived to protect him. 

Hoping to the last that reinforcements would be 
sent him so that he could again move on Richmond, he 
held his position. But at last, under a false pretext 
and against his earnest protest, the army was recalled 
to Washington and he was removed from his command. 
Released from the fear with which McClellan's position 
on the James River inspired him, Lee now gathered all 



578 MAJOR-GENERAL GEORGE B. m'cLELLAN. 

bis forces for an aggressive movement himself, and soon 
his exultant armies were swarming around Washington. 
Pope was placed at the head of the ami}' and proved 
a dismal failure, and Halleck was called to the chief 
command. He was a greater failure still ; the enemy 
now swept round the Capital towards the Potomac to 
invade the noith in return or capture Washington. 
All was confusion and fear at Washington. Who 
should now lead the Aimj^ of the Potomac ? The 
soldiers clamored for their old commander. Betrayed, 
defeated, massacred, they still were read} to tight if 
their old commander could be given them. McClellan 
was no less anxious to be with them. Stripped of his 
command, he was in camp near xVlexandiia, a l)rey to 
the keenest anxiety. Fighting was going on all around 
AVashington. His brave troops were being mowed 
down, victims to incompetency. All he could do was 
to send on fresh men fast as the orders came. At last 
lie telegraphed to Halleck, who was in chief command 
at Washington, saying: "1 cannot express to you the 
pain and mortification I have experienced to-day in 
listening to the distant sound of tlie firing of my men, 
and I ask that I may go to the scene of battle with my 
staff, merely to be with my men, if nothing more ; they 
will fight none the worse for my being with them. If 
it is not deemed best to entrust me with the command 
of my own army, I simply ask to be permitted to share 
their fate on the field of battle. Please reply to this 
to-night." To this touching ai)peal he received no an- 
swer. Kot sullen and angry did he sit down under the 
disgrace inflicted on him, but, thinking only of his 
brave troops, he simply asks to be allowed to share 
their fate. The next day, however, his revenge came 



DISMISSAL FROM ARMY GOV'r OF NEW JERSEY. 679 

in the following telegram from Halleck : " I beg you to 
assist me in this crisis with your great ability. I am 
entirely tired out." Like Caesar, he was compelled to 
cry out, " Help me, Cassius, or I sink." McClellan at 
once hastened to Washington, and once more was 
placed at the head of the army. His presence was 
hailed with shouts -and acclamations that rent the 
heavens. Reorganizing it, he rapidly pressed on after 
Lee, who was now moving northward towards Mary- 
land, near Plagerstown. After a long and bloody bat- 
tle at Antietam, he defeated him and saved Washington. 
His reward for having thus saved the Capital and 
the nation from disgrace and untold evils was dismissal 
from the army. He was ordered to retire to Trenton, 
N. J., and afterwards to New York, and nwait orders. 
This ended his connection with the war, thouo-h he 
watched with the deepest interest its progress. No 
one can tell his anguish when he heard of the useless 
slaughter of his beloved troops at Fredericksburgh un- 
der the couHuand of his successor. After the war he 
visited Europe, and on his return settled in New York 
City and was made engineer-in-chief of its docks. In 
1864 he was the Democratic candidate for President, 
but was defeated. He declined the presidency of the 
California University in 1868, and the next year that of 
Union College. Later he took up his residence in 
Orange, N. J., and in 1877 was elected Grovernor of the 
State. He declined a renomination. He was the idol 
of. the Army of the Potomac, and no man in military 
history has had such magnetic power over his troops 
since Napoleon. As one was familiarly called the 
" little corporal,'' so the other was called " little Mac,'' 
and as one broke up the infamous Directory with the 



580 MAJOR-GENERAL GEORGE B. m'cLELLAN. 

bayoQet, so could the other, had he beeu as UDScrupulous 
and ambitious, scattered the infamous cabal that at that 
time ruled at Washington. 

General McClellan was not only one of the purest 
patriots that ever lived, but he was a sincere and 
devout Christian. He was only another illustration of 
that strange principle in human life that sacrifice of 
something in some way is necessary to the general wel- 
fare. He died suddenly at Orange, N. J., October 29th, 
1885, of heart disease. 



CHAPTER XXXII. 

WAJOE-GENEKAL HORATIO GATES WRIGHT — MAJOR-GENERAL EDWARD OTHO 
CRESAP ORD — MAJOR-GENERAL ANDREW A. HUMPHREYS — MAJOR-GENE- 
RAL GODFREY WEITZEL — MAJOR-GENERAL P. P. BLAIR — MAJOR-GENERAL 
A. S. WILLIAMS — MAJOR-GENERAL JEFF. C. DAVIS — MAJOR-GENERAL 
MOWER — MAJOR-GENERAL DOBSON COX — MAJOR-GENERAL PETER J. OS- 
TERHAU8. 
• 

MAJOR-GENERAL HORATIO GOVERNEUR WRIGHT. 

As the successor of Sedgewick in command of the 
Sixth Corps, General Wright nmst be considered as one of 
Grant's important generals. He was born in Connecticut, 
and graduated in 1841 at West Point, where from 1842 
to 1843 he was assistant professor of Engineers. He was 
made First Lieutenant in 1848, and Captain in 1855, 
and Major in August, 1861. In the autumn of 1861, 
being appointed Brigadier- General of Volunteers, he was 
attached to the Port Roj^al expedition. He commanded 
the expedition Avliich was sent into Florida the next 
winter, and, capturing Fernandina, remained foi awhile in 
charge of the department. He commanded a division in 
the battle of James Island in June, 1862, but in July 
was ordered to reinforce the Army of the Potomac. In 
August he was promoted to Major-General, and assigned 
to the Department of the Ohio. While here he was 
appointed by Halleck to investi.sate the causes of the 



582 MAJOR-GENERAL EDWARD OTHO CRESAP ORD. 

evacuation of Cumberland Gap by Morgan, and com- 
pletely exonerated that officer. When Grant, in -1864, 
organized his campaign against Richmond, General 
Wright commanded a division under Sedgewick, and 
after the death of the latter took his position, and re- 
mained at the head of the Sixth Corps to the close of the 
war. He showed himself in all the subsequent marches 
and battles, a worthy successor of a most gallant com- 
mander of a corps, distinguished for its discipline Jviid 
braver}'. In the last terrible battle in front of the Peters- 
burg works, he handled his troops with a skill and power 
that elicited the warmest approbation, and bore off a full 
share of the honors, in the final pursuit and capture of 
Lee. An able department commander, and equall;^ 
capable in the iield, he took rank among the first gen- 
erals of the army. He was for a time in command of 
the Department of Texas, was retired from active ser- 
vice 22d March, 1884. 



MAJOR-GENERAL EDWARD OTHO CRESAP ORD. 

General Ord seized under Grant, both West and 
East, and has witnessed his rising and perfected fame on 
the battle-field. Born in ]\Iaryland, in 1818, he gradua- 
ted at West Point in 1839, in the same class with Hal- 
leck. As Second Lieutenant in the Third Artillery, he 
served in Florida against the Seminoles for several 
years, and then was employed in garrison duty and on 
the coast survey, till 1846, w^hen he was ordered to Cali- 
fornia. He did valuable service in the Mexican War, 
and also in preserving law and order on the Pacific coast. 
In 1851, he was made captain, and stationed on the At- 



PRESSING THE REBELS. 588 

lantic coast, where he remained till 1855, when he was again 
sent to California, and continued in active service there 
and in Oregon, and Washnigton Territory, till the break- 
ing out of the war. In 1861, he was made brigadier- 
general, and assigned to the Pennsylvania Reserve Corps, 
under McCall. In the autumn, he was made major in 
the regular army. He fought and won the battle of 
Dranesville, for which he was made major-general. 
When Halleck was sent west, he was ordered to report 
to him, who placed him in command at Corinth, and 
afterwards of the Second Division of the District of 
West Tennessee. He was with Grant in the combined 
movement with Rosecrans on luka — and after the battle 
of Corinth, vigorously pressed the rebels in their retreat. 
Through swamps and jungles, and over precipitous ridges, 
dragging his artillery by hand, he drove them from every 
position which they attempted to hold, generally, he says, 
" at the double-quick — to and across the Hatchie, at 
Davis's Bridge, over which' and up the steep beyond, we 
pushed them so rapidly that they had not time to burn 
the bridge. In driving the enemy, we took two batteries, 
and have them ; and at the river captured two or three 
hundred prisoners, among whom are field-officers, and an 
aid-de-camp to General Van Dorn." 

He served under Grant in his Vicksburg cam- 
paign, and when the latter, during the siege, removed 
McClernand, he was assigned to the command of his 
corps. 

He performed gallant service in the last great cam- 
paign against Richmond, and when Butler was removed 
from the Army of the James, he was placed in command 
of it. 

In the final advance against Petersburg, he took the 



584 MAJOR-GENERAL ANDREW A. HUMPHREYS. 

flower of his army, and moved with Grant, leaving tha 
balance north of the James, imder Weitzel. 

At the close of the war he was placed in command of 
the Department of the Ohio. 

Though his career has not been one to attract in a 
special manner the attention of the public, his services 
have been highly appreciated by the Government, and he 
ranked among the ablest generals which the war pro- 
duced, and died in Havana, Cuba, 22d July, 1883. 



MAJOE-GENERAL AI^DREW A. HUMPHREYS. 

General Humphreys was born in Pennsylvania in 
1812, graduated at West Point in 1831, and being ap- 
pointed Brevet Second Lieutenant in the artillery, acted 
as assistant professor of Engineering in the Academy 
till the next spring. Sent -to Florida, he distinguished 
himself in a fight with the Indians, and was made First 
Lieutenant in the topographical engineers. He was 
employed in the coast survey from 1845 to 1849. In 
1853 he took charge of the office of explorations and 
surveys in the War Department, and his able reports 
were published and highly extolled. Promoted to the 
rank of Major in 1861,* he was attached to the staff of 
McClellan. Made Brigadier-General in the autumn of 
1862, he was assigned to a brigade in the Ninth Army 
Corps. His whole history as connected with the Army 
of the Potomac, shows him to be possessed of the highest 
ability. When Grant put himself at its head, he made 
Humphreys his chief of staff, and on the resignation of 
Hancock in the following autumn, placed him over the 



GENERAL WEITZEL. \)S:) 

Second Corps, which he continued to command to the 
close of the war. In the various battles that followed, 
he distinguished himself by the able manner in which he 
handled it, and won a phice among the great generals 
whose names, linked to that of Grant, will go down to 
immortality. He died in Washington, D. C, 27th 
Dec, 1883. 



MAJOR-GENERAL GODFREY WEITZEL. 

General Weitzel succeeded to the command of that 
portion of the Army of the James which remained north 
of the river in the final advance of the Army of the Po- 
tomac, and being the first to enter Richmond, occupied a 
conspicuous position as one of Grant's generals. Most of 
his active military life was in the South under Butler. 
He was born in Ohio, and graduated at West Point in 
1855, the second of his class. He was not yet thirty 
years of age when he became attached to Butler's staff 
as lieutenant. Made brigadier-general in 1862, he dis- 
tinguished himself in Louisiana, and afterward command- 
ed under Banks in his expedition through the State. He 
was made chief engineer in the Department of the Gulf, 
and acquired a high reputation for gallantry in the as- 
sault on Port Hudson and the subsequent siege. Event- 
ually transferred North, he served under Butler in the 
campaign against Richmond. 

In the first expedition to capture Fort Fisher, he was 
sent on a reconnoissance of the ])hxce, and reported, accord- 
uig to General Butler s account, against the attempt to 
carry it by assault. Afterward placed over the Army 
of the James, he was stationed north of that river, when 



58(> MAJOR-GENERAL F. P. BLAIR. 

Grant made his last great movement to the south of 
Petersburg. On the evacuation of the rebel capital, ho 
entered it and took possession, establishing his head- 
quarters in Jefferson Davis' house. Here he soon after 
received President Lincoln and welcomed him to the 
Confederate capital. He died in Philadelphia, Pa., 
19th March, 1884. 



MAJOR-GENERAL F. P. BLAIR. 

No man is perhaps more identified with Grant and 
Sherman than General Blair. A Western man himself, 
he has been prominent in most of the Western cam- 
paigns, in which he always exhibited the highest capa- 
city. 

In the first attack on Vicksburg by Sherman, he bore 
himself with a gallantry that will always make him a 
conspicuous object in any description of the assault of 
that place. 

Through an almost impenetrable abattis, over a ditch 
half filled with water, with quicksand at the bottom, 
and through another abattis of heavy timber beyond, 
all the while swept by a murderous fire of artillery, 
he gallantly carried his brigade, and drove the enemy 
fi:"om the rifle-pits at the base of the centre hill on which 
the city lay. Striding on foot at its head, he still ad- 
vanced up the heights — but the force was too small for 
the work to be accomplished, and the assault had to be 
abandoned. The charge would have been no more gal- 
lant had it been successful and Vicksburg captured ; 
but success would have given it a world-wide reputa- 
tion. 



GENERAL WILLIAMS. 587 

Through the Vicksburg campaign, leading a corps 
under Sherman across the country to Chattanooga, 
thence on to Atlanta, and finally commanding the Seven 
teenth Corps under Howard, going through the Georgia 
and Carolina campaigns, he has evei shown hiinself the 
great leader, and won imperishable renown. Cool and 
imperturbable under fire, he smokes his cigar in the midst 
of a charge as quietly as in his own tent. A great 
general, he is still greater as a statesman — and could those 
who rule the country be governed by his enlarged views, 
its future prospects would be far better. Under him was 
the splendid soldier, Giles E. Smith, who with his divi- 
sion swam the Salkahatchie in mid-winter, and thus 
helped to force this strong line of defence. Nearly six 
feet high, and well proportioned, this man moved like 
a knight of old over the battle-field. He was born in 
Louisville, Ky., Feb. 19th, 1821. He died in St. Loui-, 
Mo., 8th July, 1875. 



MAJOR-GENERAL A. S. WILLIAMS. 

He was born in Saybrook, Conn., 10th Sept., 1810, 
graduated at Yale, was one of the first to offer his sei- 
vices in 1861, and was appointed Brigadier-general the 
same year. This gallant officer, commanding the Twen- 
tieth Corps under Howard in his Georgia campaign, 
has been shifted about in a most marvellous manner. 
Conceded to possess the highest merit, a favorite with 
all, subordinate, brave and efficient, he has, nevertheless, 
been advanced and set back by the mere force of cir- 
cumstances. He was a division commander at Bull 
Run and Fredericksburg — corps commander at Chan- 



58S MAJOR-GENERAL JEFF. C. DAVIS. 

cellorsville and Gettysbui'g, and when the Eleventli 
and Twelfth were consolidated into the Twentieth, 
went back to a division, and then again became corps 
commander till the Carolina campaign, when he was 
superseded by Mower, in accordance with the order of 
the President, and thence went back, at the very close 
of the war to his starting point — division commander. 

Under him was Geary, the hero of Lookout Valley 
and Mountain, and afterwards the popular governor of 
Savannah, the fortifications around Avhich he was the 
first to enter. He died in Washington, D. C, 21st 
Pec, 1878. 



MAJOR-GENERAL JEFF. C, DAVIS. 

Born in Indiana 2d March, 1828. Commanded the 
Fourteenth Corps, under Slocum, and fought his way 
up from the outset of the war to his high position — 
being one of the ablest generals in Sherman's army. 
He commanded the Fourteenth Corps in the Atlanta 
campaign and in the march through Georgia. He 
died in Chicago, 111., 30th Nov., 1879." 



majoe-general mower. 



Born in Woodstock, Vt., 2 2d Aug., 1827, and was 
educated at a common school, and enlisted as a private. 
Mower, who succeeded Williams in the command of 
the Twentieth Corps, was one of the fighting men in 
the army. Of unconquerable resolution and energy, he 
was always found in the front, and seemed most at 
home in the tumult of a great battle. It was a common 



THE GALLANT PRTJSSIAN. . 589 

remai'k in the army, that " three successive sets of his 
staff officers are in heaven." Now losing half his men 
in a desperate charge up a road in front of Vicksburg 
— uow^ wading swamps, breast deep, at the head of his 
division, and again, out on the skirmish line, he was 
ever exposed and seemingly rash ; but never failed in 
what he attempted. His words were few, and he leaves 
liis deeds to speak for him. He died in New Orleans, 
La., 6th Jan., 1870. 



MAJOR-GENERAL DOLSON COX. 

General Cox, of the Twenty-third Corps, was an- 
other general distinguished for great executive ability, 
— ready, prompt, and daring, Sherman always knew 
that whatever task was assigned to him would be done. 
Althouo-h born in Montreal, Canada, 27th Oct., 1828, 

O 7 7 7 7 

his parents were residents of New York city. His 
brilliant career in the Kanawah Valley of Virginia is 
one of the bright spots in the history of the war. 



major-general peter j. osterhaus. 

Prominent among the generals that served under 
both Grant and Sherman is this gallant Prussian. Born 
in Coblentz, Germany, 1820, was an officer in Prussian 
army. Starting as major of volunteers, in Missouri, 
at the «ommencent of the war, he has fought his way 
over all obstacles to major-general. Under Sigel, Curtis, 
McClernand, and Blair, he was always foremost in the 
fight. Wounded in the battle of Champion Hills, he 
nevertheless next day rode at the head of his division. 



590 M.AJOR-GENERAL PETER J. OSTERHAUS. 

With nothing but his own merits to push him forward, 
he was finally placed over Logan's Fifteenth Corps, in 
the Georgia campaign. Always at his post, and ready 
for any enterprise, he poured his own enthusiastic spirit 
into his troops in battle, and handled them with mas- 
terly skill and success. He did his adopted country 
noble service, and will be remembered in after years, 
with Kosciusko, Baron Steuben, and other illustrious 
foreigners, whose names grace the annals of the Re- 
public. Loving freedom, he is willing to fight for it; 
and without that captious, quarrelsome spirit, which 
characterizes some, was ready for any work, and in- 
dulged in no complaints. Such men the nation has 
always delighted to honor, and all the more, as the land 
they freely offer their lives for is not that of their birth. 
He was mustered out 15th Jan., 1866, and in the same 
year went to Lyons, France, as U. S. consul. 



APPENDIX. 

ADDITIONAL BIOGRAPHICAL NOTES OF DISTIN- 
GUISHED GENERALS OF THE WAR 1861-65. 



ABBOT, Gen. H. L. Born in Mass. Graduated, West Point, 1854. 
Served during the rebellion as Asst. Top. Eng. on the staff o^ 
Brig. -Gen. McDowell. Was in command of a brigade in the 
defences of Washington; was in command of the siege artil- 
lery of the Army of the James, 1864. Was in the operations 
before Richmond, and made Bvt. -Major U. S. Vols, for gallant 
services during the Rebellion. Mustered out 1865. 

.\MORY, Gen. Thomas J. C. Born in Mass. 1830. Graduated, 
West Point, 185 1. On garrison duty until the outbreak of the 
Rebellion. He was Colonel of the 17th Mass. Vols., respond- 
ed to the President's first call, and was stationed at Baltimore. 
Was made Brig.-Gen. of Volunteers for gallant services at New 
Berne, Beaufort, and Goldsboro. He died of yellow fever at 
Beaufort, N.C., Oct. 8th, 1864. 

ANDERSON, Gen. Robert. Born in Louisville, Ky., 1805. 
Graduated, West Point, 1825, Served in the Black Hawk 
War 1832. In command of Fts. Moultrie and Sumter at the 
breaking out of the War, and evacuated after 36 hours' bom- 
bardment by the enemy. Was in command of the Dept. of 
Kentucky, and later Dept. of Cumberland. In consequence 
of failing health he retired from active service Oct., 1863. 
He died in Nice, France, Oct. 27th, 187 1. 

ANDREWS, Gen. George L. Born in Massachusetts, Aug. 31st, 
1828. Graduated from West Point 185 1. He served during 
the Rebellion. Was engaged in the Battles of Cedar Moun- 
tain and Antietam. Was with Gen. Banks's Expedition to 
New Orleans and Port Hudson; was at the attack of Mobile, 
Ala. He was Chief of Staff to Maj.-Gen. Canby, and was mus- 
tured out of service in 1865 and retired as a planter in Mis- 
sissippi. In 187 1 was appointed professor of the French 
language at West Point. 

AVERILL, Gen. Wm. W. Born in New York. Graduated from 
West Point 1855. Was on garrison and frontier duty, and in 
623 



624 HEROES AND BATTLES. 

the defences of Washington, 18611862. He engaged in the 
march to Staunton, also Kenawha and Shenandoah Valley, 
1864. He was in the comDat at Winchester, and in command 
at Moorefield, and for gallant services there was made Bvt. 
Major-General U. S. A. Resigned 1865, and in 1866 was ap- 
pointed Consul- General of Canada. 

AYRES, Gen. Romeyn B. Born in New York Dec. 20th, 1825. 
Graduated, West Point, 1847. Served in the Mexican War of 
1847-48, after which he was on garrison duty at several posts 
on the Atlantic and Pacific coasts and on tlie frontier. Served 
during the War of 1861-66 in the defences of Washington, the 
Peninsular Campaign, and Army of the Potomac. Was en- 
gaged at South Mountain, Battles of Antietam, Fredericks- 
burg, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, the Battle of the Wilder- 
ness, assault on Petersburg, Five Forks, and numerous less 
prominent engagements. Was with the Army of North Vir- 
ginia at the surrender of Gen. Lee at Appomattox Court 
House, April 9th, 1865. 

BAKER, Gen. Eugene M. Born in New York. Graduated, 
West Point, 1859. Served during the Rebellion, and the 
following are some of the prominent battles in which he was 
engaged:— Williamsburg, Siege of Yorktown, South Mountain, 
Antietam, Gettysburg, and Winchester. 

BANKS, Gen. Nathaniel Prentiss. Born in Waltham, Mass., 
1816. In 1849 he was elected to the Legislature, and to Con- 
gress as a coalition Democrat 1853 and Governor of Mass. 1857, 
and re-elected in 1858 and 1859. He was commissioned 
Major-General of Volunteers 1861, and assigned command 
of the 5th Corps of the Army of the Potomac. In 1862 
was in command of an expedition by sea to New Orleans, 
and succeeded Gen. B. F. Butler in command of the De- 
partment. 1864 was relieved of his command, and resigned, 
and was elected to Congress from his old district. Since his 
retirement from Congress he has been U. S. Marshal for Mass. 

BUEL, Gen. David H. Born in Michigan. Graduated from 
West Point in 1861. Served during the Rebellion in the de- 
fences of Washington. Was engaged in the Battle of 'Bull 
Run, Kenesaw Mountain, Siege and Surrender of Atlanta, 
was a prisoner of war Sept. 27-28, 1864. Was with Sherman 
in his march from Atlanta to the sea, and at the surrender of 
Savannah. Engaged in the campaign and invasion of the 
Carolinas, and the battles of Bentonville and New Berne, N. C. 

BUELL, Gen. Don Carlos. Born in Ohio 1818. Graduated, 
West Point, 1841. Served with distinction during the Mexi- 
can War, and was actively engaged in organizing the army at 



BIOGRAPHICAL NOTES. 625 

Washington, 1861. Was engaged in the battles of Shiloh and 
Corinth. His retreat into Kentucky led to his being mustered 
out in 1864. 

BUTLER, Gen. Benjamin Franklin. Born in Deerfield, N. H., 
5th Nov., 18(8. Graduated Waterville College 1838. At the 
time of President Lincoln's call for troops, held the commis- 
sion of Brigadier-General of Mass. Militia. In 1861 entered 
Baltimore at the head of nine hundred men. Was made Major- 
General and assigned the command of Fort Monroe and the 
Department of Eastern Va. Took possession of New Orleans 
May ist, 1862. Near the close of 1863 was placed in com- 
mand of the Department of Va. and N. C, and was engaged 
in the capture of Fort Fisher. In 1866 was elected by the 
. Republicans a member of Congress, and Governor of Mass. 
in 1882. In 1884 was the candidate of the Greenback and 
Anti-monopolist parties for the presidency. 

CANBY, Gen. Edward, R.S. Born in Ky. in 181 8. Appointed 
from Indiana a cadet to West Point, where he graduated in 
1839. Served as 2d Lieut, of Infantry in the Florida War 
1839-42, followed by garrison duty at Ft. Niagara, Detroit, 
and elsewliere till the breaking out of the Mexican War, 1846- 
48, in which he was engaged, at the battle of Vera Cruz, 
Cerro Gordo, Contreras, Churubusco, and the final assault and 
capture of the City of Mexico, Sept 14th, 1847. Was in com- 
mand of various frontier and exploring expeditions till the 
breaking out of the Civil War, during which he served in vari- 
ous capacities; in command of the Draft, 1862 ; in command 
of City and Harbor of N.Y., July-Nov., 1863, during Draft 
Riots. Oommanded forces against Mobile and Montgomery, 
Ala., Apr., 1865, resulting in their capture and the surrender 
of Rebel forces, under Gen. R. Taylor, May 4th, and the 
trans-Mississippi Dept., under Gen. E. K. Smith, May 26th, 
1865. He was promoted from rank to rank to that of Brig.- 
Gen. U.S.A. in 1866. He was murdered while holding confer- 
ence with the Modoc Indians in Oregon, Apr. nth, 1873. 

CARROL, Gen. Samuel S. Born in D. C. Graduated in 1856. 
Served on frontier duty. Was in the principal battles of the 
Rebellion. Brevetted Major for gallant services at Chancel- 
lorsville, and Lieut. -Col. for services at Gettysburg. He was 
brevetted Colonel for meritorious services Battle of the Wilder- 
ness, and Maj.-Gen. U. S. Vol. for gallant services during the 
Rebellion. Was mustered out of volunteer service Jan., i.>66. 

COMSTOCK, Gen. Cyrus Ballou. Born in Wrentham, Mass., 
1831. Graduated at West Point 1855. Served in the defences of 
Washington, and in the Peninsular and Maryland Campaign; 
was made Chief Engineer Army of the Potomac 1862. Was 



626 HEROES AND BATTLES. 

in the Richmond Campaign 1864-65. From 1866-70 served 
as Aide to the General-in-Chief at Washington. 

CORSE, Gen. John Murry. Born Pa. Was Major 6th Iowa 
Inf. 1861, and served with great gallantry during the war of 
the Rebellion. Was made Brig, and brev. Maj.-Gen. Vols. 
I864 for long and continued service, and for special gallantry 
at AUatoona, Ga. 

CURTIS, Gen. James. Born in Maine. Graduated at West Point 
1851. He was at the Battle of Shiloh in 1862, where he was 
wounded, and for gallant services during that battle was pro- 
moted to the rank of Bvt. Maj.-Gen.. In the Tennessee Cam- 
paign he engaged the rebel Gen. Bragg in several skirmishes. 
Was at the Battle of Stone River, and served as Provost Mar- 
shall-General at Washington, D.C. He was at the Battle of 
Kenesaw Mountain, and at the siege of Atlanta, where he was 
disabled by wounds. After the War he was in command of 
Mobile Harbor. 

CUSTER, Gen. 'Geo. Armstrong. Born in New Rumley, O., 
1840. Graduated at West Point 1861. Was appointed Aide- 
de-Camp to Gen. George B. McClellan, with the rank of Cap- 
tain, attacked the Picket Post, captured some prisoners, and 
the first colors that were taken by the Army of the Potomac. 
He was appointed Brig. -Gen Vols, from June 29th, 1863, and 
assigned to the command of the Michigan Brigade. Took part 
in Gen. Sheridan's cavalry raid towards Richmond, 1864. Was 
brevetted Major- General for gallant services at Winchester and 
Fisher's Hill. Received the first flag of truce from the Army 
of Northern Virginia, and was present at the surrender at 
Appomattox Court House. After the close of the war he 
was made Chief of Cavalry in Texas. He did valiant service 
on the frontier against the Indians and was overpowered and 
killed by them in 1876. 

DOUGLASS, Gen. Henry. Born New York. Grad. West Point. 
(852. On garrison and frontier duty at Fort Smith. Served 
during the Rebellion in the Manassas Campaign, and at 
Bull Run, July, 1861. Served also in the Defences of Wash 
ington, and in the Tennessee and Mississippi campaigns, and 
in the advance upon and siege of Corinth. Was in Gen. 
Rosecrans' Tennessee campaign, and at the battle of Stone 
River, where he was wounded. 1862, he was brev. Maj. for 
meritorious services at the battle of Murfreesboro. After the 
war he served on frontier duty at Fort Dodge, Kansas. 

EVANS, Gen. Andrew W. Born Md. Grad. West, Point, 1852. 
Served on garrison and frontier duty until the opening of the 
Rebellion, serving in the operations in New Mexico. Was 



BIOGRAPHICAL NOTES. 627 

brevetted Major for gallantry at the battle of Valverde, 
N. M. 1863 was transferred to the Army of the Potomac. 
1864 was in the operations before Richmond and in the bat- 
tle of Five Forks and of Appomattox. 1865 was assigned to 
the military post of Waco, Texas. 

FRANKLIN, Gen. William B. Born in Penn. Graduated at West 
Point 1843. Engaged in war with Mexico. Served during 
the Rebellion in receiving and forwarding volunteers. Was in 
command of a brigade in the Manassas Campaign, and of a 
division in the Va. Peninsular Campaign. Was in command of 
an expedition to Sibine Pass and Red River. Served as presi- 
dent of the Board for retiring disabled officers. Made Bvt. 
Major-General U. S. A. 1865 for gallant services. He re- 
signed from volunteer service 1865, and from the regular 
army in 1866, and for many years was President of the Colt's 
Fire Arms Co., Hartford, Conn. 

FREMONT, Gen. John Charles. Born in Savannah, Ga., 1813. 
Grad. Charleston College, S. C. He was recommended to the 
Government and employed as engineer in the Mississippi sur- 
vey. Having received the commission of Lieut. Engineer, he 
proposed to the Government to penetrate the Rocky Moun- 
tain region. He made many valuable explorations and be- 
came known as "the Pathfinder," and, in fact, was largely 
instrumental in securing California to the U. S. He took part 
in the war with Mexico, and cleared the Northern part of 
California from Mexican troops. In 1849, settled in Cali- 
fornia, and the same year was elected U. S. Senator for that 
State. In 1856, he was the first nominee of the Republican 
party for President. In 1861, he was made Maj.-Gen. and 
actively engaged in the operations of the war. In 1862, was 
in the Ky. and Va. Campaigns. Was in command at the Bat- 
tle of Cross Keys, Va., agamst Stonewell Jackson. In 1878, 
he was appointed Gov. of Arizona. He died in New York, 1890. 

GARFIELD, James A. Born in Orange, O. Grad. Williams 
College, Mass., in 1856. Studied and practised law and was 
a member of the Ohio Senate, 1859-60; entered the army, 
1861, as Col. 42d Ohio Vol.; was promoted to Brig. Gen. of 
Vol., 1862; served at Prestonburg, Ky., Shiloh, Corinth, etc.; 
was Chief of Staff to Gen. Rosecrans, 1863; for gallantry at 
the battle of Chickamauga was promoted to Maj.-Gen. of Vol.; 
he resigned to occupy a seat in the 38th Congress, serving 
there until elected U. S. Senator in 1880. June, 1880, he was 
nominated for Pres. of the U. S. by the Republican Conven- 
tion in Chicago, and was subsequently elected. July 2d, i88i, 
four months after his inauguration, he was shot in the R. R. 
Depot at Washington by Charles J. Guiteau, a disappointed 



628 HEROES AND BATTLES. 

office-seeker. He suffered great pain, lingering until Sept. 
igth, 1881, and died at Elberon, N. J. 

GRA.NGER. Gen. Gordon. Born in N. Y., 1821. Graduated, 
West Point, 1845, and took part in the principal battles of the 
Mexican War. When the Civil War began, he served on the 
staff of Gen. McClellan, was engaged at Dug Spring and 
Wilson's Creek. In March, 1862, he commanded the cavalry- 
operations that led to the Fall of Corinth. He conducted the 
operations in Ky. and Tenn. in the spring of 1863, repelling 
Forrest's Raid, in June, and taking part in Rosecrans' Tenn- 
essee campaign, distinguishing himself in the battle of Chicka- 
mauga, and was afterwards assigned command of the 4th 
Army Corps, and was engaged around Chattanooga, and in 
the battle of Missionary Ridge. He commanded a division 
at Fort Gaines, Ala., in August, 1864, and was in command of 
the 13th Army Corps in the capture of Fort Morgan, and the 
operations that resulted in the fall of Mobile, spring of 1865. 
At the time of his death, January loth, 1876, he was in com- 
mand of the district of New Mexico. 

GREGG, Gen. David McMurtrie. Born in Penn. Graduated at 
West Point 1855. Served on garrison duty in the Florida 
wars, and during the Rebellion in the defences of Washington. 
Was in Maryland, the Rappahannock and Penn. Campaigns, 
and engaged in the combat of Beverly Ford, and Battle of 
Gettysburg, 1863. In 1864 was brevetted Major-Gen. U. S. 
Vols, for highly meritorious and distinguished conduct through- 
out the campaign. He resigned Feb. 3d, 1865. 

GRIFFIN, Gen. Charles. Born in Ohio. Graduated 1847. 
Served in war with Mexico, and during the Rebellion, at bat- 
tle of Bull Run, Va. ; in defences of Washington and Peninsular 
Campaign. Was on Court Martial duty 1863-64. Was in 
the Richmond campaign, and made Bvt. Major-Gen. U. S. Vols, 
for conspicuous gallantry in the Battle of the Wilderness. 
Died Sept. 15th, 1867, at Galveston, aged 41. 

HAWKINS, Gen. John P. Born in Indiana. Graduated in 1852. 
Served in the defence of Washington 1861. Also as Chief 
Commissary Department of Mo., of West Tenn. and 13th 
Army Corps. 1864 was in command of a colored brigade, was 
in the battle of Mobile, and brevetted Major U. S. Vols, for 
gallant services during the Rebellion. 

HAYES, Gen. Edward M. Born, New York, 1842. Entered the 
Military Telegraph Service April, 1861, and assigned to the 
Army West Va. He served on the staff of Gen. Kilpatrick 
from 1864-65. Assigned to reconstruction duty in N. C. In 



BIOGRAPHICAL NOTES. 629 

1868 was transferred to frontier service against the hostile 
Sioux; was escort to President Arthur to Yellowstone Park. 

HEINTZELMAN, Gen. Samuel P. Born in Penn. Graduated 
at West Point 1826. Served on garrison duty prior to the 
Rebellion ; was ia command at Alexandria, Va. defending Wash- 
ington. Was in the Manassas campaign, and battle of Bull 
Run, where he was wounded. Also served in the Va, Penin- 
sular Campaign. He was brevetted Major-General for gallant 
services at the battle of Williamsburg, March X3th, 1865. 

HOVEY, Gen. Alvin P. Born Mt. Vernon, Ind., 182 1. During 
the Civil War was appointed Col. of Ind. Vols., and served at 
Shiloh and Corinth. Commanded a division at Battle of 
Champion Hills, contributing largely to the success of that 
day. He was engaged in the Vicksburg Campaign. Was 
brev. Maj.-Gen. of Vols. July, 1864. Resigned Oct., 1865. 
1866 was appointed U.S. Minister to Peru. 

KAUTZ, Gen. August V. Born in Germany. Graduated at West 
Point 1852. On garrison, frontier and scouting duty until 
the breaking out of the Rebellion. Was in the defences of 
Washington and in the Va. Peninsular Campaign. Was in 
command of a cavalry brigade at Monticello. 1864 was in 
the campaign against Richmond, and received the rank Bvt. 
Major-Gen. U. S. A., 1865, for gallant and meritorious ser- 
vices. Was a member of the military commission on the trial 
of the assassins of President Lincoln. 

KEARNEY, Gen. Philip. Born in New York, 1815; was 
attached to the staff of Gen. Scott, 1841-44; lost an arm in 
the assault upon City of Mexico; served as volunteer to the 
French at Magenta and Solferino; was in command with Gen. 
Hooker at Williamsburg and with Gen. Howard at battle of 
Fair Oaks ; was promoted to Major-Gen., and was killed at 
Chantilly, 1862. 

LANGDON, Gen. Loomis L. Born N. Y. Grad. West Point, 
1854. Served in garrison at Fort Monroe, and in the Florida 
hostilities against the Seminole Indians. Was on Frontier 
duty at Fort Brown, Texas, 1857-59, and at Brazos Santiago, 
Texas, 1859-60. Served during the Rebellion in the defence 
of Fort Pickens, Fla.; repulsed the attack on Santa Rosa Island, 
Fla.; in garrison at Ft. Jefferson, Tortugas, Fla., in 1862. Com- 
manded the field and siege batteries in the descent upon 
Morris Island, June, 1863, and the siege of Ft. Wagner. Was 
in command of a brigade in Expedition to Florida, 1864, and 
at the battle of Olustee. Was in command of a battery at 
siege of Petersburgh, and in operations before Richmond, 
Sept., 1864. 



630 HEROES AND BATTLES. 

LYONS, Gen. Nathaniel. Born in Connecticut. Graduated at 
West Point 1841. Served in the Florida War, 1841-42, and 
followed a three years' garrison duty on the Canadian frontier. 
He did gallant service in the War of Mexico and was at the 
assault and capture of the City of Mexico. Was engaged in 
a number of skirmishes with Indians on the frontier. At the 
commencement of the Rebellion he was assigned to Missouri, 
and at his third engagement, Battle of Wilson's Creek, Aug. 
loth, 186 f, was killed, aged 42. 

MARSHALL, Gen. Elisha G. Born in New York. Graduated 
from West Point 1850. He served in the various campaigns of 
the war and in the following battles: Malvern Hill, Manas- 
sas, Fredericksburg, and was here severely wounded. Return- 
ing from leave of absence, he was engaged in the Battle of the 
Wilderness, Cold Harbor, and Petersburg. Here he was taken 
prisoner and held for eight months, till the close of the war. 

McALESTER, Gen. Miles D. Born in New York. Graduated 
West Point 1856. Distinguished as a Constructing Engineer; 
was Engineer-in-Chief of the Army of the Potomac. Served 
in the Va. Peninsular Campaign. Was brevetted Brig.-Gen. 
U. S. A. for services, siege of Mobile. Was engaged in the 
construction of defences of Ship Island, and of New Orleans, 
Mobile, Pensacola, and improvements mouth of the Miss. River. 

McCOOK, Gen. Alex. McD. Born in Ohio. Graduated from 
West Point in 1852. Served on frontier duty, and during the 
Rebellion as mustering and disbursing officer at Columbus, O., 
also in the defences of Washington. He was in the Manassas 
Campaign. At the close of the war he was brevetted Brig.- 
Gen. for gallant services at Perryville, and Maj.-Gen. U.S.A. 
for gallant services in the field. 

McDowell, Gen. Irwin. Bom in Ohio. Graduated at West 
Point 1838. Served on the northern frontier. Was Asst. In- 
structor of Tactics at West Point 1841. He served during the 
Mexican War and during the Rebellion in organizing and 
mustering at D.C. He was engaged in the battle of Ball Run, 
and was President of the Board for retiring disabled officers. 
In 1865 he was brevetted Maj.-Gen. U.S.A. for gallant ser- 
vices. Was mustered out in 1866. 

MERRILL, Gen Lewis. Born in Penn. Graduated, at West Point 
1855. Served on garrison and frontier duty until the breaking 
out of the Rebellion. Served in mustering and organizing 
volunteer regiments, and in the operations in Missouri. Com- 
manded a cavalry brigade in the Arkansas Campaign. Was 
brevetted Brig.-Gen. U. S. Vols, for gallant services in 1865, 
and served as Acting Inspector-Gen. Dep. of the Platte. 



T^TOORAPIIICAL NOTES. 631 

MERRITT, Gen. Wesley. Born in New York. Graduated at West 
Point i860. Served in the defences of Washington, and 
was promoted from rank to rank. Was Major-Gen. U. S. Vols, 
for gallant services, at the Battles of Winchester and Fisher's 
Hill. Mustered out of volunteer service Feb. ist, 1866. 

MILES, Gen. Wellington Appleton. Born, Westminster, Mass., 
1839. Entered the volunteer service as Lieut. 22d Mass. 
Inf. Engaged in the Peninsular battles, and fought in all the 
battles of the Army of the Potomac with one exception up to 
the surrender of Gen. Lee. Was wounded three times. Was 
brevetted Brig.-Gen. Vols, for bravery at Chancellorsville, 
and Major-General Vols, for services in the Richmond cam- 
paign. He defeated Cheyenne, Kiowa and Comanche Indians 
on the plains in 1875, and subjugated the hostile Sioux, driv- 
ing " Sitting Ball " across the Canada border. He received 
the commission of Brig.-Gen. U. S. A. in 1880. After a dififi- 
cult campaign with the Apaches under Chief Geronimo and 
Natchez, he compelled them to surrender. He received a 
vote of thanks from the Legislatures of Kansas, Montana, New 
Mexico and Arizona for his services in the West. 

MORGAN, Gen. Michael R. Born in Nova Scotia. Graduated 
from West Point in 1854. Served on garrison and frontier 
duty. Served during the Rebellion. Was appointed Com- 
missariat Port Royal Expedition, S. C, for distinguished ser- 
vices; was made Bvt. Brig.-Gen. U. S. A., 1865 for gallant 
services during the campaign terminating with the surrender 
of the Confederates. 

NEWTON, Gen. John. Born in Va. Graduated from West 
Point in 1842. Served as Captain, and Major of Corps of 
Engineers, 1842-61, in River and Harbor Improvements, 
Light Houses, and Fortifications. He served during the 
Rebellion, and was engaged in the Battles of Gaines's Mill, Bull 
Run, South Mountain, Antietam, Fredericksburg, Gettysburg, 
Kenesaw and Atlanta. Since the war he has served as Super- 
intending Engineer of various improvements, notably that of 
Hell Gate Channel, N. Y., 1868. 

O'CONNELL, Gen. John D. Born Pa. Grad. West Point 1852. 
Served in garrison at Ft. Columbus, N. Y., and on frontier 
duty at Fort Yuma, Cal, 1852-54. He was in command at 
battle of Gaines' Mills, Va., 1862, and was in the battle of 
Fredericksburg, Va. He died the i6th of September, 1867. 

PATTERSON, Gen. Robert E. BorninPenn. Graduated at West 
Point 185 1. Until the breaking out of the war was on 
frontier duty engaged against the Sioux Indians. Was in 



632 HEROES AND BATTLES. 

the Battle of Maivern Hill, Manassas, Chantilly, and de- 
fences of Alexandria, Va. 1865 was made Bvt. Brig.-Gen. 

POE, Gen. Orlando Metcalfe. Born in Navarre, O., 1832. 
Graduated at West Point 1856; assigned to the topographical 
engineers. Participated in the Battle of Rich Mountain while 
on the staff of Gen. Geo. B. McClellan. Was appointed Brig- 
adier-General of Vols. Nov. 1862. Received the brevet of 
Major for gallant services at the siege of Knoxville, 1864, and 
Lieut.-Col. for the capture of Atlanta, 1864, and that of Colonel 
for the capture of Savannah, 1864. Was Aide-de-Camp to 
Gen. Win. T. Sherman in 1873-84. 

POPE, Gen. John. Born in Kentucky. Graduated at West Point 
1842. Served in Florida. He was in the war with Mexico, 
and during the Rebellion as mustering officer at Chicago. Was 
in command of the 2d Division of the Army operating against 
Gen. Price. Was in command of the Army of the Mississippi 
in the movement on New Madrid, Mo.; also in command of 
the Army of Virginia, and of the Div. of Missouri. He was 
mustered out Sept. ist, 1866. 

RENO, Gen. Jesse L. Born Va. Grad. West Point 1846. Served 
during the Mexican war, was engaged in the siege of Vera Cruz. 
Served fourteen years as Captain of Ordnance, July ist, i860. 
During the rebellion he commanded a brigade in Burnside's 
Expedition to N. C, was engaged in the capture of Roanoke 
Island, 1862. In the Maryland Campaign he commanded the 
9th Corps Army of the Potomac, and while gallantly leading 
in the battle of South Mountain he was killed Sept. 14th, 1862. 

REYNOLDS, Gen. John F. Born, in Pennsylvania. Graduated, 
at West Point 1841. Served in the war with Mexico. Was on 
garrison and frontier duty at different forts. Served during 
the Rebellion from 1861-1863, commanding a regiment at 
Fort Trumbull. Served in the Peninsular Campaign. In 1862 
was captured and held a prisoner of war from June 30th to 
Aug. 8th, 1862. Was in command of the Penn. Vol. Militia 
in defence of the State, and Gov Curtiss tendered to Gen. 
Reynolds his thanks in behalf of the State. He was in com- 
mand of the First Corps of the Army of the Potomac, and at 
the opening of the battle of Gettysburg, was killed July ist, 
1863. The ist Corps erected a bronze heroic statue to him on 
the field of Gettysburg. 

RICHARDSON, Gen. Israel B. Born in Vermont. Graduated 
1841. Served in the Florida, also Mexican, War. In 1855 he 
resigned and retired to private life. Was engaged in the de- 
fences of Washington, and in the Manassas Campaign of July, 



BIOGRAPHICAL NOTES. 633 

1861, and the Battles of South Mountain and Antietani, where 
he was mortally wounded, 1862, aged 47. 

■ RUGGLES, Gen. George D. Born in New York. Graduated at 
West Point 1855; served on frontier duty, and at St. Louis, in 
1858, as Acting Adj. -Gen. of the Department of the West; 
was in garrison at VVashington, and on special duty of organi- 
zation of volunteer forces from 1861 to 1862. Was Chief of 
Staff and Adj. -Gen. of the Army of Virginia under Major- 
General Pope. He was engaged in the Maryland Campaign, 
in the assault and capture of Petersburg and the pursuit of the 
Rebel Army which terminated in Gen. Lee's capitulation. 

SCHENCK, Gen. Robert Gumming. Born in Franklin, O., in 
1809. Graduated Miami University, 1827. Studied law 
with Thomas Corwin; admitted to the bar at Dayton, O. In 
1851 was minister to Brazil. In 1861 he offered his services 
to the Government, and was one of the first Brigadier-Gen- 
erals appointed by President Lincoln. His brigade formed 
a part of Gen. Tyler's division at the first battle of Bull Run, 
and was on the point of crossing the Stone Bridge, when the 
arrival of Confederate reinforcements turned the tide of bat- 
tle. At the second battle of Bull Run he led the i^t division 
of Gen. Franz. Sigel's corps, and was wounded by a musket 
ball, shattering his right arm, incapacitating him for active 
duties until Dec, 1862. He performed effective service in the 
Gettysburg campaign, and then resigned his commission, 
Dec. 3d, 1863, to take his seat in Congress. Was re-elected in 
1864. Dec, 1870, was appointed minister to Great Britain, 
and in i87iwason the Alabama Commission. He resigned 
in 187 1, and resumed the practice of law, in Washington, D. C. 

SCHURZ, Gen. Carl. Born in 1829. A German liberal, came 
to the U. S. in 1850, and among his countrymen here is con- 
sidered one of the best English scholars. He was appointed 
Minister to Spain in 186 1; entered the U. S. army and took 
an active part in the civil war; was U. S. Senator from Mo. 
1869-75; Secretary of the Interior under President Hayes; 
became editor of the JV. Y. Evening Post, 1881. 

SCOTT, Gen. WiNFiELD. Born Petersburgh, Va., 1786. Early 
in the war of 181 2 as Lieut. -Col. he was sent to Canada; at 
Queenstown Heights, was taken prisoner, but was exchanged. 
He exercised great tact on the frontier defences during the 
Canadian revolt of 1837-38. In 1841 was appointed Com- 
mander-in-Chief of the U. S. A., and in 1846 directed the 
military operations in the war against Mexico. In 1852 he 
was the candidate of the Whig Party for the Presidency. At 
the outset of the Rebellion he was actively engaged in organ 



634 HEROES AND BATTLES. 

izing the Army. Age and growing infirmities compelled him, in 
Nov., 1861, to retire from active command. He died in 1866. 

SHIELDS, Gen. James. Born in Ireland, 1810. Emigrated to 
U. S., 1826, and studied and practised law at Kaskaskia, 111., 
from 1832. Served in the Mexican war. At Cerro Gordo 
was shot through the lung, and won the bvt. of Maj. -General; 
was severely wounded at Chapultepec. He was mustered 
out in July, 1848, and the same year appointed Governor 
of Oregon Territory. He resigned on being elected U. S. 
Senator from 111. At the call for troops, 186 r, he hastened to 
Washington, and was appointed a Brig. -Gen. of Vol. In 
M irch, 1862, at the head of a division of Gen. Banks' Army 
he opened the second campaign in the Shenandoah Valley 
resulting in the victory at Winchester, and was there severely 
wounded. He resigned March, 1863, and settled in Gal., but 
later resumed the practice of law in Mo. He died at 
Ottumwa, la., 1879. 

SICKLES, Gen. Daniel E. Born in New York. Served during 
the Rebellion. Was in the Battles of Fredericksburg and 
Gettysburg. Suffered the loss of his left leg. Was mustered 
out 1868, retiring with the rank of Maj. -Gen. 1869. He was 
Sheriff of New York City in 1890, appointed by the Mayor to 
fill an unexpired term,. 

SMITH, Gen. Andrew J. Born in Penn. Graduated in 1838, 
Was on frontier duty, and engaged with hostile Indians. 
Served during the Rebellion — was engaged in the advance 
upon and siege of Corinth. Was in command of the Depart- 
ment of the Army of the Tennessee. Was brevetted Maj.- 
Gen. U.S.A. for gallant services, at the battle of Nashville. 
Was mustered out of volunteer service 1866. 

SMITH, Gen. Benjamin F. Born N. J. Grad. West Point, 1853. 
Served in garrison and frontier duty until the breaking out of 
the Rebellion, then as Mustering Officer at Philadelphia, and 
afterwards in command of a regiment of the Army of the Ohio, 
in the Tenn. Campaign, and engaged in the Battle of Pittsburg 
Landing, April, 1862. Was in the Battle of Shiloh and Corinth. 
Was in Va. Peninsular Campaign — in the Battle of Gaines' 
Mills, Battle of Malvern Hill — and in the Northern Va. Cam- 
paign. Was in the Richmond Campaign of 1864. Was brev. 
Maj. -Gen. Vols, for meritorious conduct at Petersburg, Va. En- 
gaged in pursuit of rebel army from Richmond. Was on fron- 
tier duty at Ft. Phillip Kearney in 1867. Died 22d June, 1868. 

SMITH. Gen. William SooY. Born, Tarlton, O, 1830. Graduated 
at Ohio University in 1849, ^"^ at West Point in 1853. At 
the beginning of the Civil War he was appointed Lieut.-Col. 



BIOGRAPHICAL KOTES. 635 

of Ohio Volunteers. In 1862 he joined the army under Gen. 
Grant and took part in the Vicksburg campaign. Was sub- 
sequently made chief of cavalry of the Department of the 
Tennessee. Owing to impaired health, he resigned in 1864. 
He built the Waugoshanee light-house at the western entrance 
of the straits of Mackinaw. 

STANLEY, Gen. David Sloane. Born in Cedar Valley. O., 1828. 
Graduated at West Point 1852. At the beginning of the Civil 
War he refused high rank in the Confederate Army. Was ap- 
pointed Brig.-Gen. Vols., 1861. Was in most of the battles of 
the Atlantic Campaign. After the war was on frontier duty, 
dealing with nearly every tribe of Indians. In 1884 appointed 
Brig.-Gen. regular army and assigned to Texas. 

STEDMAN, Gen. Griffin Alexander, Jr. Born in Hartford, 
Conn , 1838. Graduated Trinity College, Hartford, 1859. 
In 1 86 1 entered the army as Captain in the 5th Conn. Reg. 
He was in the Shenandoah service and the battle of Antie- 
tam, leading half of the regiment in the charge on the Stone 
Bridge, where he was severely wounded. Afterwards made 
Major of the nth Conn., and commanded the regiment at 
Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville and Gettysburg. He was 
mortally wounded in the skirmish following the mine explosion 
at Petersburg. Fort Stedman was named after him. His 
grave at Hartford has a monument of granite and bronze. 

STEELE, "Gen. Frederick. Born in New York. Graduated 
1843. Served in the war with Mexico, and on frontier duty. 
Served in military operations in Missouri during the War of 
the Rebellion. Was in command of the 15th Army Corps in 
the Vicksburg Campaign. At the close of the war he was 
brevetted Maj.-Gen. U.S.A. for meritorious services. 

STONEMAN, Gen. George. Born, New York. Graduated 1846. 
Served in the war with Mexico, and on frontier duty. During 
the Rebellion served in the Defences of Washington, was on 
the staff of Major-General McClellan. Was engaged in the 
Va. peninsular campaign as Chief of Cavalry. He was 
brevetted Brig -Gen. U. S. A. for gallant services in capture 
of Charlotte, N. C, and brevetted Major-General for gallant 
services during the Rebellion. Mustered out in 1866. 

SWATNE, Gen. Peter T. Born N. Y. Grad. West Point 1852. 
He served on the Utah Expedition 1857-60 and recruiting 
service i86o-6r. He served during the rebellion, and was in 
the battle of Shiloh, and witli Gen. Buell's movements through 
North Ala., Tennessee and Kentucky to Lousville. 1862 
he commanded a brigade in defence of Cincinnati. Was in 



636 HEROES AND BATTLES. 

the Tennessee campaign 1862-63. W'as wounded at the battle 
of Stone River, and engaged in the battle of Murfreesboro. 

TORBERT, Gen. Alfred T. A. Born, Georgetown, Del, 1833. 
Graduated, West Point, 1855. Served on frontier duty, and in 
Mexico. Served through the Peninsular Campaign. Also in 
the Maryland Campaign. In April, 1864, he was placed in 
command of the ist Division of Cavalrv of the Army of the 
Potomac. He commanded at Liberty Mills and Gordonsville 
Dec, 1864. In 1865 he was bvt. Brig.-Gen. U. S. A. for gal- 
lant services. Mustered out of volunteer service 1866; Re- 
signed from the regular army October, 1866. Was Minister 
to San Salvador 1869 — Consul General to Havana two years 
later — filled the same position in Paris from 1873 to 1878. 

TURNER, Gen. John W. Born, New York. Graduated, West 
Point, 1855. Served on frontier duty and against Seminoles 

1861. Was in command of a battery in the reduction of Fort 
Pulaski. He was brevetted Major Sept. 6th, 1863, for gallant 
services. 1865 participated in the pursuit of the Rebel Army 
which terminated in the capitulation at Appomattox Court 
House. Mustered out of volunteer service 1866. 

TYLER, Gen. Robt. Ogden. Born, N. Y., 1831. Graduated, 
West Point, 1853. Served on frontier duty. In 1861 he was 
on the expedition to relieve Fort Sumter. In 1862 he was 
made Brig.-Gen. of Vols. On the 19th of May, 1864, he drove 
back Ewell's Corps at Spottsylvania. At Cold Harbor he 
received a severe wound in the ankle, which lamed him for 
life, and shattered his constitution; was brevetted Major-Gen- 
eral for gallant services. The Connecticut Legislature thanked 
him, and the citizens of Hartford presented him with a sword. 
He died in Boston ist December, 1874. 

WALKER, Gen. Thomas W. Born Ind. Grad. West Point 1856. 
Served on frontier duty at Fort Defiance, N. M., 1857-58. 
Served during tlie rebellion as mustering and disbursing officer 
at Cincinnati, 1861, in the defences of Washington, D. C, in 

1862. in the Va. campaign, the siege of Yorktown, the advance 
on Hanover, C. H., at the battle of Gaines' Mills, Va., the 
battle of Antietam, and the battle of Fredericksburg. Failing 
health compelled him to retire from active service Sept. nth, 

1863. Was President of Norwich University, Vt., 1867-68. 

WEBB, Gen. Alexander S. Born in New York. Graduated at 
West Point 1855. Served in the Florida hostilities, and on fron- 
tier duty, and as Professor of Mathematics. Served during the 
Rebellion. Was in garrison at Washington, and in the 
Manassas, Virginia and Rapidan Campaigns. Was Chief of Staff 



BIOGRAPHICAL NOTES. 637 

to Gen. Meade, commanding Army of the Potomac. Was 
brev. Brig.-Gen. U. S. A. for gallant services. Served as Act- 
ing Inspector General of the Military Division of the Atlantic, 
1866. Is now, 1890, president of the New York College. 

WHIPPLE, Gen. W. D. Born in New York. Graduated at West 
Point 185 1. Served on garrison duty on the Atlantic Coast 
and on the frontier. In 1857 he was engaged against the 
Apache Indians. Was a gallant soldier during the War of 
the Rebellion. In 1865 was promoted to the rank of Bvt. 
Maj. Gen. U. S. A. 

WILSOiN, Gen. James H. Born in Illinois. Graduated, West 
Point, i860. Served during the Rebellion, and as Chief Top. 
Eng. Port Royal Exped. Corps in 1861, was Acting Aide-de- 
Camp to Major- General McClellan. He was in the Battle of 
Chattanooga and Battle of the Wilderness. He was Bvt. Maj.- 
Gen. U. S. A. for services in the capture of Selma. In a 
brief campaign of twenty-eight days captured five fortified 
cities, twenty-three stands of colors, 288 guns, 6,820 prisoners, 
including Jefferson Davis, at Irwinville, Ga., May loth^ 1865. 
Was mustered out of volunteer service 1866. 

WOOD, Gen. Thos. J. Born in Kentucky 1823. Graduated, 
West Point, 1845. Served in Texas in 1845. He served 
during the Rebellion, organizing and mustering Indiana troops. 
Was in command of a brigade at Fort Nevin. Was brevetted 
Major-General for gallant services. Mustered out in 1866. 

WOOL, Gen. John Ellis. Born in Newburgh, N. Y., in 1789. 
He served in the War of 1812-15 and was distinguished for 
gallantry during the War with Mexico, 1846-47. At the out- 
break of the Civil War he was in command of Fortress Mon- 
roe; and occupied Norfolk, Va., May loth, 1861. Advancing 
age compelled him to retire from active service, and for a time 
he served as recruiting officer. Died loth November, 1869. 



